The 52-year-old shot himself fearing that his son was fatally hit when his gun went off.
A 52-year-old man allegedly committed suicide in the district today by shooting himself, fearing that his son must have been fatally hit after his licensed gun went off accidentally when he was cleaning it, police said.
The incident occurred in the morning at Ayyampuzha near Angamaly in Ernakulam district.
Police said Mathew, a security employee with a private firm, allegedly shot himself using the same gun, fearing that his 23-year-old son Manu was fatally hit after the weapon went off accidentally when he (Mathew) was cleaning it.
The condition of Manu, who has been admitted to a private hospital with minor injuries, is stated to be out of danger, police said.
Police said Manu has given a statement, saying it was a gun accident and his father committed suicide fearing that he (Manu) was seriously injured after the gun went off accidentally while he was cleaning it.
Police said they have launched a detailed probe into the incident after registering a case on charges of careless handling of gun and unnatural death.