A 22-year-old performer, performing on stage in a marriage function was shot dead in cold blood in a marriage hall in Bhatinda for reportedly snubbing a man who demanded she danced with him.

A 22-year-old dancer was shot dead on stage allegedly by a drunk man after he was not allowed to dance with her troupe in Punjab's Bhatinda.

The incident happened last night during the marriage function of a local commission agent's son in Maur, Bhatinda where the deceased, identified as Kulwinder Kaur, was performing with her dance troupe.

A group of the groom's friends, who were allegedly drunk, were firing in the air and tried to come on to the stage to join the dancers, police said.

On being prevented from dancing on stage, one of the men from the group, Billa, allegedly opened fire with his .12 bore gun, hitting Kulwinder in her head.

Video footage of the incident shows the victim being shot at from close range and collapsing to the ground.

"She died on the way to hospital," Bhatinda DSP (Maur) Davinder Singh said.

A case of murder has been registered against four persons, including Billa, police said, adding that they are absconding.

The other three are yet to be identified and investigation is underway, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police of Bhatinda said that the accused was in an inebriated state and a case has been registered against four people.

Accused was under the influence of alcohol. Case registered against 4 people (Accused, his 2 friends & owner of banquet hall): SSP Bhatinda — ANI (@ANI_news) December 4, 2016

National Commission for Women (NCW) Chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam told Times Now that "nobody present in the hall is willing to talk on the issue but nobody can get away with murder."

With inputs from PTI