BAND, BAAJA, BANDOOK AND A BLOODY TRAIL
Deaths and injuries in celebratory firing are common during the marriage season every year. In a number of cases, even the brides or grooms have died
LUCKNOW: For Prince, a 28-yearold disc jockey, it was just another performance at a function organised to celebrate the birth of a child. Little did he know it would be his last one. He was hit by a bullet during celebratory firing. Prince later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The tragedy did not stop here. The father and brother of Prince also died in a road accident while they were rushing to the hospital on a motorcycle to see him. And this is not a case in isolation. Deaths and injuries in celebratory firing are common during the marriage season every year. Here, we take a look into the bloody trail.
LUCKNOW : For Prince, a 28-yearold disc jockey, it was just another performance at a function organised by a family in Dudhaheri village of Muzaffarnagar on June 17 to celebrate the birth of a child. Little did he know it would be his last one, for he was hit by a bullet during celebratory firing. Prince later succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
The tragedy did not stop here. The father and brother of Prince also died in a road accident while they were rushing to the hospital on a motorcycle to see him.
And this is not a case in isolation. Deaths and injuries in celebratory firing are common during the marriage season every year. In a number of cases, even the brides or grooms have also fallen prey to stray bullets fired as part of the jubilations. This is when the high court has banned the practice.
In another case in Medwa village of Pratapgarh, at least 14 people, including two women, were injured in celebratory firing during a marriage ceremony on April 27. Similarly, a youth died while two others were injured in celebratory firing during a tilak ceremony in Tambaur area of Sitapur.
With marriage season taking off again, the police are making marriage organisers and owners of banquet halls and marriage lawns to file a bond promising they would not allow use of firearms at functions organised at their places.
Inspector general (IG) of police, Lucknow range, Jai Narain Singh said all police station in-charges had been asked to make a list of banquet halls, marriage lawns, guesthouses and farm houses in their areas of jurisdiction.
He said the station in-charge concerned would ensure that no function was allowed without informing them and filing of bond. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Lucknow, Deepak Kumar said stern directives had been issued to station in-charges for strict compliance of court orders on celebratory firing.
Kumar said the bond would fix responsibility of local police as well as organisers to ensure that no firearms are used at functions. “Organisers will have to inform the guests about ban of celebratory firing,” he said. The SSP added local police station in-charges had been asked to maintain communication with village pradhans or other local representatives like corporators, local leaders or village chowkidars to gather information about functions being organised in the area.
He said the organisers would also be made to fill the bond and asked to ensure that firearms were not used by guests.
“Families of bride and bridegrooms will be asked to fill the bond in case of marriage. In case of other functions like mundan or birthday party, the organiser will be held responsible in case of firing.
According to the SSP, the police station concerned will keep a stern vigil if there is a possibility of firing during celebrations.
State police spokesman ASP Rahul Srivastava said the DGP headquarters had issued necessary directions to check the use of firearms in marriages and other celebrations.