Father of baby shot in head with airgun is 'overcome with guilt and can't face his family' say relatives

Bakht Zaman, 29, has been in his 'own world' since his 18-month-old son Rashid Rullah was shot in the back of the head in the family's garden in Birmingham, according to his brother.

But Bakht Rammand, 48, grandfather of Rashid  -  who remains in a stable but critical condition in Birmingham Children's Hospital  -  blamed his son for keeping guns in his house.

Gun victim: Rashid Rullah is fighting for his life after he was accidentally shot by his five-year-old sister

The baby was shot by his five-year-old sister with an airgun after their father, who was using it for target practice, left it loaded and turned his back to answer his mobile phone.

Mr Rammand said he would speak to his son about the matter in his 'own time'.

He said his son would have to face a lot of questions from the whole family but that he, as head of the family, would only speak to him when he was ready to.

Bakht Rammand, the baby's grandfather, said he would be speaking to his son about the gun

But he is currently too upset to talk, according to the child's uncle, who did not wish to be named.

He said: 'Rashid's mother is upset of course, because her little son is in a bad way. But she is just praying to God that Rashid gets back to normal so he can see his mum again.

'My brother is upset as well, and he is in his own world and has been since it happened. He can't face the family because he is so upset and has had such a shock.'

Mr Rammand said that if he had known his son had a gun, he would have 'taken it to pieces and put it in the dustbin'.

'It is a bad habit he has got, I will speak to him in my own time and only when I am ready to,' he added.

'I don't blame him for the incident, but I do blame him for having guns in the house.'

Mr Rammand also called for tougher laws.

'Airguns should not be sold to anybody.

'There have to be tougher laws on guns like this because some of them are more powerful than some proper guns,' he said.

Accident: The house where the 18-month-old boy was shot in the head with an airgun