UP Wedding Celebratory Firings Turn Catastrophic: Here's A List Of Incidents Which Killed Or Injured Guests!

Showsha in UP's weddings is not just limited to displaying fancy cars and grand venues, it's also about the bullet shower and who fired more rounds during the baraat. The Bullet Rajas of UP love doing tamanchey pe disco, and for them, celebration means getting trigger-happy and firing several shots in the air. The more the intensity of happiness, the more rounds they fire. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a wedding - be prepared to see gun-toting men at engagements, naam-karan functions and mundan ceremonies.

In 2012, the then Director General of Police in UP issued an order that the licenses of the gun owners be revoked in cases of celebratory firing. But the problem remains in all parts of the state that local administrations coming up with stricter measures to counter them. For instance, earlier this month, irked by the increasing number of celebratory firing incidents in the city, Bareilly police issued an order that firing at wedding celebrations could lead to jail not only for the groom but also the owner of the banquet hall.

With four new cases of celebratory firing in the state this month alone, which either killed or injured guests, there is clearly no fear for the law. We take a look at the recent incidents of celebratory firing in the state where tamanchey pe disco turned catastrophic.

May 25, 2015, Kanpur: Tragedy at tilak ceremony

The festivities at a 'tilak' ceremony in Govindpur area of Kanpur turned grim when Satish Pal, one of the guests, suffered serious injuries after being hit by one of the rounds from the licensed DBBL gun of 12 bore being wielded by one Narendra Pal. Satish was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. The police arrested Narendra and charged him under Section 302 (murder) of IPC along with sections of the Arms Act.

May 12, 2015: Cook at the receiving end

The incidents of 'celebratory' firing causing casualties are pretty common, with the most recent one being of a cook getting injured while preparing the feast for the guests last week at a wedding in Sector 34. Pancham, the cook who was busy cooking for the guests, collapsed when a bullet fired by someone at the venue hit him.

May 7, 2015, Saharanpur: 'Don't know whose bullet killed my son'

Thirteen-year-old Monti would never have imagined that an occasion as festive as his cousin's wedding would the setting of his fatal injury. After being hit by a stray bullet fired during celebratory firing at Sakhankhurd village in Saharanpur, Monti died on the spot. Rajkumar, his father, refused to take any legal action in the case, claiming that he did not know who fired the gunshot during the ceremony.

May 4, 2015, Bareilly: Drink and (mis)fire

An inebriated cousin of the groom opened fire in celebration at a wedding in Bareilly, accidentally hitting a 14-year-old guest in the leg and leaving him profusely bleeding. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital from where he was discharged after two days of treatment. The accused was booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and the police also issued show cause notice to the banquet hall owner, where the wedding was being held.

April 28, 2015, Rae Bareli: Young kid loses his life

An 11-year-old boy lost his life in celebratory firing during a wedding in Rae Bareli. Abhishek suffered injuries in the abdomen when one Babu Kushwaha opened fire from his licensed DBBL gun during the wedding function at Hullapur village. The boy was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries, they said. The accused was arrested and a case was registered.

August 19, 2014, Ambedkar Nagar: Cop kills colleague's wife

In a case of celebratory firing that tarnished the UP Police's image, a police sub-inspector in Ambedkar Nagar fired from his service revolver during Krishna Janmashtami celebration, killing a colleague's wife on the spot. The accused, Ghanshyam, fled the spot immediately and is still absconding.

May 15, 2013, Ghaziabad: Physically-challenged person hurt

A physically challenged person sustained bullet injuries in the abdomen at a wedding in Ghaziabad when some youths, who were dancing, started firing indiscriminately. The accused, including the bridegroom's brother were arrested and booked under the Arms act.

February 6, 2013, Meerut: Youth dies on the spot

A guest's decision to open fire in the air to celebrate at a wedding in Inchauli, Meerut it proved costly for 20-year-old Jasram. The youth was hit by a stray bullet fired during a pre-wedding function and he died on the spot. No arrest was made.

August 15, 2012, Meerut: I-Day celebrations turn fatal

Independence Day celebrations at a local rubber factory in Meerut took a nasty turn when a Vinod, a storekeeper was shot and killed and Sudhir, the factory manager was left battling for his life after another factory worker opened fired at the conclusion of the I-Day function at the factory in Shastri Nagar. The accused, Shivpal, remained on the run from the police before being apprehended in late 2013.

July 16, 2012, Bareilly: Kid dies at oath-taking ceremony

A nine-year-old boy was shot dead during celebratory firing in Bareilly during the oath taking ceremony of an independent candidate in the local civic body. Even though the police was quick to dismiss the incident as an accident, they were unable to explain how supporters were able to sneak in firearms.

February 26, 2010, Meerut: Bullets scare jumbos away

Meerut did expect a lot of fireworks and showsha as BSP MP Kadir Rana's son married Rajya Sabha member Mumquad Ali's daughter in a high-profile wedding at a resort on the Meerut-Delhi highway. To welcome the umpteen ministers, legislators and creme de la creme of UP politics, the two hosts had arranged for 13 elephants, 15 camels and 42 horses. What they did not account for was how the animals would react to the dozens of rounds of celebratory firing unleashed by their supporters. Two elephants, irked by the firing, ran towards the venue's parking lot and trampled several vehicles. It was only after a 15-hour long operation involving 200 personnel from the police and forest departments that the two animals were brought under control. No case was registered against the persons responsible for gun firing or those bringing the elephants to the wedding venue.

February 18, 2010, Noida: Drunken firing kills groom during bidaai

Just like drunken driving can claim lives, so can drunken firing. In one such incident, a groom was shot dead in Noida when his drunk uncle fired from his double-barrelled gun after getting 'overexcited' during the bidaai ceremony. The groom, Pankaj, who was about to sit in the car, collapsed right there as the bullet hit his head. Most incidents go unreported: Cops These are only a few of such cases which were reported - in most cases, the police was unable to identify the perpetrators or arrest anybody. A senior cop, requesting anonymity, told us, "It's not only licensed arms, the black market of illegally manufactured guns has caused a number of such incidents in Noida and Ghaziabad. Most of these cases go unreported as no one comes forward as an eyewitness. And so there is no record of celebratory firing."

Most incidents go unreported: Cops

There are only a few such cases which were reported - in most cases, the police was unable to identify the perpetrators or arrest anybody. A senior cop, requesting anonymity, told us, "It's not only licensed arms, the black market of illegally manufactured guns has caused a number of such incidents in the state. Most of these cases go unreported as no one comes forward as an eyewitness. So, there is no record of celebratory firing." Another senior police officer, on grounds of anonymity, says, "The aggressive nature of many people in the region often manifests itself in violent forms. It is a matter of pride for people in this region to own arms. Children grow up in such an atmosphere and it is no wonder that they take this gun-culture forward. It is almost customary for a 'high-profile' wedding in the state to be accompanied by celebratory firing."

(Originally published in The Times of India; With inputs from Niharika Lal)