KARACHl: A minor girl was killed and 32 persons were wounded in incidents of aerial firing to celebrate New Year across the metropolis, police and hospital officials said on Monday.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said 33 persons suffered bullet wounds in celebratory firing on New Year`s Night. They were brought to three major government hospitals the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for treatment.

She said that among the victims, threeyear-old Saniya was brought to the hospital from Korangi in critical condition and she died during treatment. The child suffered a bullet wound in the head, she said.

Korangi SHO Amin Solangi said that Saniya was asleep with her parents in the courtyard of her small house near Sabir Park when a bullet hit her in the head.

Meanwhile, the police claimed to have arrested over 75 suspects for carrying out celebratory firing and booked them on attempted murder charge.

South DIG Syed Asad Raza said five persons were shot at and wounded during aerial firing in the South Zone of the city police.

Sixteen suspects were arrested and booked under the Arms Act as well as Sections 324 (attempted murders) and 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the DIG said.

SSP-East Syed Irfan Bahadur said 20 suspects involved in aerial firing were arrested from different parts of the district.

Whereas a police spokesperson said in a statement that 30 suspects were apprehended over aerial firing in the district Central and 32 FIRs were registered against them under relevant laws. The spokesperson said that 16 pistols, two rifles, two MP-5 rifles, nine spent bullet casings and four arms licences were also seized from their custody.

Korangi-SSP Hasan Sardar Niazi said nine suspects were arrested from different parts of the district and arms were seized from their custody as well.