KANPUR: Celebratory firing has become an increasingly popular 'ritual' at weddings. In fact, a gun is considered to be a status symbol in the groom's side. More the count of the guns, the grand is the wedding. However, it is fast turning into a menace which had left many dead or injured.
On Tuesday, a bullet fired in a marriage procession in Akbarpur pierced through the jaw and the right eye of groom Amrish. Although there's a ban on such firing, the rule is seldom followed. An overzealous Raja is busy collecting ammunition these days for his elder brother's marriage. "I had purchased about 300 bullets out of my savings to celebrate my brother's wedding," he said.
However, Rajiv, a resident of Harsh Nagar, whose relative died in celebratory firing recently, said: "I think such sick elements are just making mockery of the court directives." Going by the past incidents, the people usually avoid the routes where 'baraat' processions are going or guesthouses situated. Rishi, an MNC employee, had a frustrating experience last Saturday. He recalled: "I had a really terrible encounter with a 'baraat' near VIP Road. In that procession gun-totting members of 'baraat' were drunk and they were constantly firing in air, putting the lives of passers-by as well as others in danger. It's really sad that such things have become a routine affair and the law enforcement agencies have done nothing to stop the menace on roads."
Taking a serious note of Akbarpur incident, the district administration has decided to deal with the offenders with an iron fist. District magistrate Hari Om said that ban has ban has been imposed on the use of firearms during the wedding functions. A special police team has been constituted. It would be deployed in plain-clothes near wedding venue.
Every wedding season sees a sharp rise in cases of celebratory firing. Not very long ago, the Chakeri police booked a few persons in connection with the celebratory firing incident in which a guest died when he was hit by a stray bullet.
The police and the district administration are committed to check the problem. Raids would be conducted and such spots checked by cops, DIG Rajesh Rai said. "All the SHOs have already been apprised in this regard," Rai said.
However, despite ban and several cases of injuries in celebratory firing, the police rarely conduct checks. The licensed firearm holders involved in many such celebratory firings were found to be drunk. Sanjay, living near a guesthouse, said: "I have never come across checks by cops at marriage sites."
"The fear of police is not there because of absence of proper monitoring," says Prashant, who had been witness to one such celebratory firing incident in the city.
A police officer said that the cops would now conduct surprise checks. The locals should come forward to help the police if they come across celebratory firing, he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment