Youth shot dead for asking groom’s brothers to stop celebratory fire in UP's Budaun

BAREILLY: A 21-year-old college student was allegedly shot dead during a wedding ceremony by two brothers of the groom after he asked them to stop celebratory firing in UP’s Budaun district. Initially, the police said that the accused were loading a pistol and it went off accidentally, hitting Mohammed Saajim’s eye. The incident took place on Monday night in Kakrala town under the jurisdiction of Allapur police station.An FIR was registered against the duo under sections 302 (murder) and 504 (intentional insult) on the complaint of Saajim’s father on Tuesday. Both the accused are absconding and efforts are on to arrest them.
Saajim, a college student, had gone to attend the wedding of his neighbour along with his elder brother. The groom’s brothers, Mahnoor, a ward member, and Aijaj, a private contractor, were firing in the air using a country-made pistol on the venue when Saajim was hit. He was rushed to hospital by his brother and police were informed about the incident.
By the time police reached the venue, all guests and the groom's family members had fled the spot. Later, police collected empty cartridges from the spot and took the statement of the tent workers.
After initial investigation, police found that the brothers of the groom were involved in the firing and they escaped immediately after the incident.
Saajim’s brother Talib Khan, however, said it was not an accident. “My brother had asked Aijaj and Mahnoor to stop celebratory firing but they instead shot at him with the pistol. It is a case of murder.”
Budaun SSP Sankalp Sharma said, “Prima facie, it is a case of celebratory firing, but the FIR is registered as per the complaint given by the victim’s kin. We are checking both the aspects of the case. The accused have used country-made pistols and they will be arrested soon.”