Girl killed in celebratory firing during wedding procession in Meerut

A 20-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a bullet fired during celebratory gunfire on Monday night when she was watching a wedding procession from the rooftop of her house.

The incident occurred in Shyam Nagar on the 20-Foot Road, triggering chaos in the procession and forcing the groom to flee the scene, police said on Tuesday.

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The victim, Afshan (20), daughter of Arshad, was standing on the roof with her grandfather Iqbal, watching the wedding procession pass by. As the wedding party danced to DJ music, some youths allegedly began celebratory firing. One of the bullets struck Afshan in the abdomen, causing her to collapse instantly.

Her brother Abdul Samad rushed her to KMC Hospital on a motorcycle, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. The news plunged the family, already present at the hospital, into grief and shock.

The celebratory firing caused panic among the wedding guests. The groom, Suhel, son of Haji Shahnavaz, was riding on a mare when the chaos broke out. He dismounted and fled. Police arrived shortly after and traced the groom to King Palace on Hapur Road, where the wedding ceremony was supposed to take place. However, upon learning of the police presence, he escaped through a back exit.

Suhel was scheduled to marry Alina Parveen, the younger daughter of Haji Islam. Interestingly, Haji Islam had planned the weddings of both his daughters on the same day. While the elder daughter Saba Parveen successfully married Mohammad Ibrahim from Delhi, Alina remained dressed in bridal attire, her wedding stalled by the tragedy and the groom’s disappearance.

Police have lodged an FIR against the groom and three named individuals, along with 20 unidentified persons. One accused has been arrested so far, while several members of the groom’s family are reported absconding. Multiple police teams have been deployed to trace the remaining suspects.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Vipin Tada stated that the investigation is underway to determine whether the weapons used in the firing were licensed or illegal. “If the shots were fired from licensed weapons, the licenses will be canceled,” he said. Several people have been detained and are being questioned.

Afshan, who had completed her intermediate studies, was one of six siblings, two brothers and four sisters. Her sudden death has left the family shattered, and the neighborhood in deep mourning.

Police efforts continue to apprehend those responsible for the illegal firing that led to the young woman’s tragic death.