PATNA: Celebratory firing claimed the life of a bridegroom and left another injured at a village under

police station in Patna rural late on Sunday night. The injured, Guddu Rai (28), a resident of Harshyampur Chak village in Patna district, is battling for his life at a private hospital in Danapur.

The incident took place around 11.30pm at Vijayatpur village under the Shahpur police station area of the district. Guddu Rai, the younger brother of the bridegroom, Satyendra Kumar (30), opened fire during ‘jaimal’ (a pre-wedding ritual) causing bullet injuries to him and the bridegroom. Both the injured were rushed to a private hospital where the bridegroom died on Monday.

Police said Guddu is undergoing treatment at a private nursing home under police custody. His condition is stated to be critical. The police, however, failed to recover the weapon used in the celebratory firing.

As the news about the bridegroom’s death spread in the area, locals rushed to the house of Bhulten Rai (55), whose daughter Poonam’s marriage was to be solemnized with Satyendra, who worked at a private company in Delhi.

SHO of Shahpur police station Naseem Ahmed said the first bullet fired by Guddu got stuck in the barrel of the gun. The bullets suddenly went off causing injuries to the bridegroom and Guddu. “We are trying to ascertain whether Guddu was in drunken state when he opened fire,” the SHO said, adding the statement of the injured would be recorded once his health condition improved.

“A police team will be sent to Akilpur soon to ascertain the criminal antecedents of the accused, if any,” the SHO added.

This is the fifth such incident in the state after the state government banned celebratory firing in January this year on the directive of the Union home ministry. Earlier on February 13, one Golu Kumar (20), a videographer, was killed in celebratory firing at Karorichak village under the Phulwarisharif police station area in Patna district.

On February 10, a 21-year-old dancer, Akriti Singh had died after being hit with bullets at Viratpur village in

district. Another person had received bullet injuries in the incident.

Another incident of celebratory firing was reported from Kanchan Nagar locality of

town. The incident occurred when one Chandan Singh opened fire at a woman dance. However, the bullet missed the target and hit the banjo player Dhirendra Ram (40), who died on the spot. Ram was a resident of Aakashi village in Rohtas district.

At Saharsa, a 22-year-old boy was killed and another person was injured in celebratory firing. The deceased was identified as Amit Kumar alias Lallu Jha. In yet another incident, a woman dancer of an orchestra group, Ratna Devi, was seriously injured in celebratory firing during a wedding function at

in West Champaran district.

The MHA had sent a directive to the state government earlier this year regarding ban on celebratory firing at wedding functions. Celebratory firing is mainly prevalent among the Rajputs, Yadavs, Kurmis and Kushwahas during marriage ceremonies in the state.