Lucknow was shaken after a tragic incident when Unaiz Khan, a 13 year-old-boy was shot dead by a gunshot wound in a birthday party of his friend on the evening of 2nd March, 2026. A happy day turned into a nightmare for Unaiz’s family and the entire community when a joyous occasion for a group of young friends turned into a crime scene.
The Incident: Party turned into a murder
The unfortunate event took place at around 7 pm on the evening of 2nd March, 2026 at the house of Sanjeev Tripathi, a contractor in LDA Colony, Barigawan under the Krishna Nagar Police Station area.
Unaiz Khan who is in class 7 and his father Zamir Khan is an electrical shop owner in the locality. Unaiz had gone to the birthday party of his friend (the family has identified the friend as Navneet) celebrating his 13th birthday. A revolver belonging to the house owner was found at the scene.
It has been heard that Unaiz was going to the party with four friends at around 3:30 PM. Within the next few hours, the family got the news that would forever change their lives.
Conflicting Narratives: Accident or Foul Play?
The inquiry is presently dependent on two entirely different versions of the incident:
The Police Theory: Accidental Discharge
Following the first inquiries, ACP (Krishna Nagar) Rajneesh Verma, who is part of the investigation team, said that it could be an unfortunate incident. According to the story, the kids came across a loaded revolver that was kept in the house. The minors, driven by curiosity, started to play with the weapon. The firearm allegedly went off by mistake and Unaiz was hit at point, blank range in the head.
The Family’s Allegation: Murder and Cover-up
Unaiz’s father Zamir Khan has denied the accident theory, alleging it was a deliberate killing and a subsequent attempt to hide the truth. The family alleges they were initially told Unaiz had been in a “road accident” to lure them to Lok Bandhu Hospital. They still firmly believe that the boy was forced to be shot in the head and they have named the friend’s father in their complaint. Besides that, the police complaint also includes the allegation of a prior threat by the house owner, Sanjeev Tripathi.
Legal Action and Current Status
Initially, the police conducted only an inquiry but after the family’s protest and a formal complaint they have now started a criminal investigation.
The case has been registered under Section 103 (Murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Three minors who were at the party have been taken into custody for questioning to determine the sequence of the events. The body has been sent for a post-mortem and forensic experts are examining the scene of the shooting to find out if it was really “point-blank”.
The Question of Negligence
The case does not only point to criminal intent but also exposes a major firearm safety lapse. The police are trying to find out why a loaded revolver was within the reach of children in a house full of minors. According to Indian law, firearm owners must keep guns in a safe, locked place; if they fail to do so not only will their arms license be revoked but they can also be charged with negligence.
“We are investigating the circumstances under which the firearm was kept accessible and whether there was any negligence.” — ACP Rajneesh Verma.
