PATNA: A ward councillor’s wife was killed allegedly in celebratory firing which took place during a marriage ceremony of her relative at village Sultanpur under Danapur police station area in western Patna on wee hours of Tuesday.
As per police, it was the councillor's relatives who had carried out the firing.
The slain woman was identified as Sunny Devi, who was aged around 25 years. She was wife of ward number 15 councillor Sujeet Kumar.
The marriage was of one Sippu Kumari who is one of the cousins of the councillor. The bridegroom was Vikash Kumar who hailed from Anisabad locality in state capital.
Police sources said that it was around 3am when the Danapur police station received information about the celebratory firing and the injury.
Police sources said that Sunny was on stage for garland exchange ritual (Jai-mala) when celebratory firing started taking place.
They said that the woman received a bullet injury in her head from the celebratory firings. Police said that she was rushed to a private hospital in Raza Bazaar then to another private hospital in Patliputra colony where she finally succumbed to the injuries.
Danapur SDPO Syed Imran Masood said that police have arrested Pawan Mahto and Sudhir Kumar of Sultanpur who were spotted involved in celebratory firing.
He said that both of them are ex-servicemen and had licenced weapons with themselves. SDPO said that police have come to know that both are relatives of the councillor.
“Two regular rifles and a regular pistol along with several cartridges have been seized from their possession. These weapons were used in celebratory firing,” Masood, a young IPS officer, said.
He said that both of them had fired several rounds in air which is visible from the videography footage too.
“There were two more persons with Pawan and Sudhir were engaged in celebratory firing with more regular weapons. They are yet to be traced,” he said adding no empty cartridges from the spot.
He said that the incident had taken place at around 1am and the woman died in course of treatment at around 7am.
Danapur police station SHO Ajeet Kumar Saha said that none had come forward yet to submit any written complaint or lodge an FIR.
“Police are acting on its own till now. Raids are being conducted to arrest the two suspects who were involved in celebratory firing during the marriage ceremony and are still evading arrest,” SHO said.
Saha said that after the incident, the marriage ceremony was wrapped up in a hurry. He said the body has been handed over to family after conducting a post-mortem.
