Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 13
The semi-feudal practice or celebratory firings during weddings have killed atleast a dozen people in different parts of Bihar in the last one week.
The month-long marriage season comes to a halt on Monday. Most of the victims of the celebratory firings are either members of the Dance-Orchestra parties or members of the Baraat (marriage processions).
Two such incidents took place at Ara, 60 kms from here late last night at two different marriage celebrations. At Chanda village, 19 years old Munna Ram, son of Sanjivan Ram was killed when he was attending the “welcome ceremony” when the groom was garlanding the bride during the Jaimala programme. A member of the groom’s party fired as celebrations and bullets hit a co-villager,” Munna Ram, who died on the spot.
At Padariya village under Charpokhari police station of Bhojpur district, Nikesh Kumar Singh (25) was killed when members of the Baraat party which had come from Bhabhua fired, killing Nikesh on the spot. The brides’ father Hargovind Singh had objected to the celebratory firings, but his “sermons” were rejected by the Baraat party members, mostly drunk in the prohibition bound Bihar.
In one of the marriage processions of the daughter of principal of a Patna based premier college, members of the Baraat party fired in the air till the Tamboo (Tent) was not torn into pieces. Luckily, none was hurt.
Deputy SP of Piro, Ashok Kumar Ajad said police had arrested three people, including father Vishwanath Singh and brother of the groom.Rifle used in the firing has been seized. Police filed FIR against 40 members of the Baraat party.
Last week, a 12-years old child was also killed in celebratory firing at Ara, headquarters of Bhojpur district.
Last night, one person was killed in celebratory firing at Bhagalpur. Father of the bride had requested the groom’s relatives not to resort to firings, but his advice was ignored.
At Begusarai town, 150 kms from here in North Bihar, a 14 years old child who was witnessing the arrival of the marriage procession too was killed when members of the Baraat party started firing.
At Bagaha in West Champaran, a young member of the dance party from Siliguri (West Bengal) was killed when she was fired by the members of the Baraat party. At Bhabhua too, members of the orchestra and rural dance party faced the wrath of the Baraat party as they had resisted their bid to force them to dance to their tunes. In firing, one of the dancers was killed.
At Vigrahpur under Sonbarsha police station of Saharasa district,a woman dancer, Madhu was killed when she too became a victim of the scourge of celebratory firing.
Within minutes of exchanging the garlands with the bride,the groom Satyendra Kumar fell victim to celebratory firing at Shahpur as someone from the Baraat fired to celebrate the marriage.
On Saturday, a lawyer, Mehar Anwar was killed when he objected to the teasing of women dancers during the marriage celebrations at Daniwayan,30 kms from here. He was a lawyer at Masaurhi civil Court. Marriage party of his son had gone to Ekangarsarai in adjoining Nalanda district. During the night, a dance programme was organised. A group of local youths started teasing the women dancers, which was resisted by the lawyer and father of the groom.
The inebriated youths followed the members of the Baraat party while they were returning and attacked the groom’s father at Daiyawan and killed him on the spot. Five other members of the Baraat party were also assaulted.
Similarly, incidents of deaths due to celebratory firings have come from Samastipour, Nalanda, Fatuah, Chapra and Saharsa too.
Through an amendment in the Arms Act on December 9, 2019, celebratory firings at any social or public function have been banned. It had been made a punishable offence inviting two years jail and Rs one lakh as fine or both. State government too had issued notifications prohibiting celebratory firings.
In the rural pockets of Bihar, it is tradition to hire dancers ,mostly women during the marriage parties.
