An 11‑month‑old Rohingya child was critically injured after being shot with an illegal firearm allegedly held by his father at Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred around 7pm at Camp‑2 (West), under the jurisdiction of the Kutupalong Balurmath Police Camp in Ukhiya.
The victim, Mohammad Arman, is receiving treatment at the Kutupalong MSF Hospital.
Members of Armed Police Battalion (APBn) detained the child’s father, Abdur Mobin, reportedly an active member of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO).
Police said Mobin initially tried to conceal the incident by fabricating a story that members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) had carried out the shooting.
APBn‑14 Captain Additional DIG Mohammad Siraj Amin confirmed the incident, saying the firearm discharged accidentally while Mobin was inside his shed.
“The bullet struck his infant son, Mohammad Arman, directly in the stomach,” he said.
Following the shooting, Mobin allegedly spread rumour that he and his son had come under attack by ARSA members and claimed he had also been shot. However, an immediate investigation by APBn personnel found no injury marks on his body, said Additional DIG Siraj.
Witnesses and local sources said residents rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshot and rescued the child. Mobin was detained from near the MSF Hospital.
Law enforcers have launched a special operation to recover the illegal firearm used in the incident. The APBn official said no criminals would be spared and said that law and order situation in the camp remained stable and under police control.
Legal proceedings against the detained individual are underway.
