MEERUT: A Delhi resident Mahanand alias Bholu was shot in the head at a wedding procession in

’s Bhavanpur area on Sunday evening. Mahanand, the bride’s cousin was rushed to a higher centre in Delhi after his condition deteriorated. Police said he is critical.

Police said that Mahanand, a resident of

in Delhi, had come down to Kinanagar village in Meerut’s Bhawanpur area.

A bullet accidentally hit him in the head during the wedding procession following which he was rushed to a local private hospital.

“He was referred to a higher centre later and was rushed to Delhi. He is still under observation,” Rajesh Kumar, superintendent of police (rural areas) said.

Sources said that the accused who had fired during the procession is also a relative of the bride. Police has not registered an FIR in the case as is yet to receive any official complaint in the matter.

Only last month, three people were killed in celebratory

in

.

Despite a complete ban, celebratory firing in UP is rampant. It has already claimed 31 lives in the past 35 months. The victims included 12 minors and four women, and another 32 were injured in 55 celebratory firing incidents during the same period.