Celebratory gunshots kill two in Bihar

By: Ramashankar
PATNA: A band party member and a student were killed while a dancer was injured in three separate incidents of celebratory firing in the state Sunday night.
Reports said a bullet hit one Dharmendra Ram (35) when he was performing during a wedding at Kanchan Nagar under the Bhabhua police station area in Kaimur district on Sunday night. Ram, a member of the band party, was rushed to Bhabhua sadar hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Kaimur SP Dilnawaz Ahmed said the accused, Jitendra Singh, was absconding.His brother and father had been detained. The baarat had gone to Bhabhua from Agrer in neighbouring Rohtas district, he said.
Bhabhua police station SHO Satyendra Ram said the police conducted a raid at Jitendra’s house and seized 11 live cartridges and swords. Ravindra Singh, the proprietor of Jai Mata Di theatre, told the police that Jitendra was drunk and insisted on playing a particular song. The incident took place around midnight. Jitendra opened fire with his licensed gun.
In another incident, one Amit Kumar alias Lallu (25) was killed when a member of the wedding party opened fire at Chainpur under Bangaon police station area in Saharsa district on Sunday night. Amit was standing near his father’s betel shop when the bullet hit him. Saharsa SP Rakesh Kumar said five persons had been arrested in this connection. They have criminal antecedents, he said. “The deceased, an undergraduate student, was a native of Madhubani district,” he told this newspaper.
A report from Bagaha said a 19-year-old woman dancer received bullet injuries when a member of the marriage party opened fire with a licensed gun at Parasnagar under Bagaha police station area in West Champaran district. Police said three persons had been detained for interrogation. The victim is stated to be a resident of Silliguri in West Bengal. She is undergoing treatment at the Bagaha sadar hospital where her condition is stated to be critical.
It may be noted that celebratory firing during wedding has been prohibited and the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has asked states to initiate steps to check such incidents. Accordingly, the state home department had asked the district magistrates and the superintendents of police to launch a crackdown against those involved in violating the MHA directive.
Authoritative sources said the state police headquarters has taken a serious note of it and directed the SPs to ensure that no such incidents occurred in future.
Earlier, a woman dancer was killed in Saharsa district on February 21 this year. On February 24 this year, a photographer, identified as Sonu Kumar (21), was killed when a relative of a bride opened fire at Brahpur under Phulwarisharif police station area in the state capital.