Photographer killed, 3 injured in western UP celebratory firing

A photographer was killed and three people were injured in separate incidents of celebratory firing in western Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

The first incident happened in village Malakpur Sembali of Moradabad district when relatives of a groom were celebrating ahead of the marriage party.

During celebratory firing, a bullet hit the photographer, Raju alias Pintu of village Raipur Bhood, in his stomach while he was taking pictures. A 17-year-old girl, Meenakshi, present at the spot also sustained bullet injuries and both were immediately taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared Raju dead, police said. The condition of Meenakshi is also critical, they added.

Nitin Tiwari, senior superintendent of police, Moradabad, said strict action would be taken against the accused and a recommendation for cancellation of their firearm licence would be sent to the district magistrate.

In a similar incident, a 12-year-old boy, Monu, sustained a bullet injury in village Buddha of Meerut district on Friday evening when he was watching a marriage party going to village Bafar along with other villagers. Monu was admitted to a hospital and police lodged a case against the bride`s father.

In the third incident, a woman in village Gangnauli of district Bagpat was injured in celebratory firing on Friday evening when she was watching a marriage party along with other women.

In the wake of growing incidents of celebratory firing, Luxmi Singh, DIG, Meerut range, has directed police stations to keep a close watch on such incidents and do verification of firearms licences in their respective areas.

Singh has also has given instructions to arms dealers to collect the details of used cartridges before selling fresh cartridges against the sanctioned limit.