Bihar: Three including bridegroom’s brother, bride’s nephew killed in celebratory firings in Madhepura and Munger

PATNA: At least three persons including a bridegroom’s brother and a bride’s maternal nephew were killed in celebratory firings that took place separately during two marriage functions that took place in Madhepura and Munger on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
In the Madhepura incident, slain persons have been identified as Rajesh Yadav (38) and his close relative Ranjan Yadav (35). The incident took place at village Sheikhpur Chaman under Udakishunganj police station area.
The second incident took place at village Mirzapur Bardah under Mufassil police station area in Munger. The slain teen has been identified as Mohammad Aquib, who was aged around 17 years.
Udakishunganj police station SHO Jai Prakash Choudhary said that the firing incident had taken place between 12.30am to 1am on Saturday.
Chaudhary said that Rajkishore Yadav’s daughter Khushbu Kumari was getting married to Makeshwar Yadav’s youngest son Ranbir Kumar.
“The baraat had come from Kanjari village under Beldaur police station area of Khagaria. The marriage was in complete violation of lockdown guidelines as no prior permission was taken and there was a huge count of guests who had gathered from both sides,” he said.
SHO Choudhary said that someone from the bridegroom’s side started celebratory firing in air during jai-maala when Ranbir’s elder brother Rajesh and their relative Ranjan was hit in chest and abdomen respectively.
“Both were rushed to hospital but Rajesh died on the way. Ranjan was admitted to a private hospital in Saharsa where he died at around 4pm on Saturday. One of his vital nerves near kidney was damaged and doctors failed to stop internal bleeding,” SHO said.
He said that Ranjan was brother-in-law of one of the other two brothers of the bridegroom and was native of Bangalia village under Mansi police station area of Khagaria.
SHO said family members of bridegroom and bride soon fled from the village after the first death took place. Police have come to know that at least four to five rounds were fired in air during the function of which two resulted in injuries.
“Marriage was concluded hardly within 15 minutes after the incident. Police conducted raids at the bride’s house but none were found,” he said.
SHO said that the bridegroom’s family have taken his brother’s body somewhere else instead of Khagaria for cremation fearing police crackdown.
He said none came forward before police to tell who had opened fire during the marriage.
“However, police have come to know that the accused is from bridegroom’s side. We are trying to locate and arrest him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Munger’s Mufassil police station SHO Neeraj Kumar said that the slain Aquib was the maternal nephew of the bride whose marriage was going to take place.
“Aquib was shot just below the chest. No one is telling the police who had opened fire during the marriage. Family members and relatives are saying that Aquib was standing outside the venue alone when he was shot but it is highly suspicious,” he said adding no prior permission was taken from police for holding the marriage function.
SHO said that police received information about the incident at around 12.30am. He said that though the body has been handed over to family after post-mortem, a written complaint is still awaited in connection with the incident.