Girl dies in shotgun mishap

ALOR STAR: An eight-year-old girl died after her uncle allegedly fired a shotgun belonging to their great grandparents by accident at a house in Kampung Empa in Mukim Derang, Pokok Sena here today.
In the 11am incident, the victim, Puteri Intan Sharini Mohd Hishamuddin, who was watching television in the living room of her grandfather's house, died on the spot after she sustained serious injuries on the left side of her face.
Kota Star district police chief ACP Mohd Rozi Jidin said according to a witness, the incident occurred when the girl's 15-year-old uncle was carrying the firearm in the house.
"We have questioned one of the victim's relatives who informed that the uncle had (accidentally) shot the girl," he said in a statement here today.
Mohd Rozi said prior to the incident, the girl's grandfather had taken the 80-year-old shotgun for squirrel-hunting before her uncle took a closer look at the firearm.
"We have seized the shotgun and the licence which is still valid until June next year," he said, adding that both the uncle and grandfather were being detained to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The body was taken to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, the girl's father, Mohd Hishamuddin Azmi, 34, said his eldest of four siblings was living with her grandparents, two uncles and an aunt after he got divorced three years ago.
"I was working in Jitra when I received a call from my ex-wife at 11.30am about the incident.
"I immediately rushed over and it was heartbreaking to see my daughter lying sprawled in blood in the living room," he told reporters at the house.
Mohd Hishamuddin also said the last time he contacted his daughter was last week when she told him to take her to shop for school items.
"I was thinking of taking her to buy school uniforms and other items this Friday but that plan is dashed," he said, adding that his daughter was a bright student as she had received an excellence award from SK Penghulu Darus, Wang Tepus in Jitra near here for two consecutive years. — Bernama