Dancer’s killing: Main accused, 3 others held

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 5

The district police today claimed to have arrested Lucky Goyal alias Billa of Maur Mandi, who had allegedly opened fired the gunshot that killed orchestra dancer Kulwinder Kaur at a wedding last night.

The police said they had also arrested marriage palace owner Jagsir Singh, Sanju Goyal (to whom the weapon belonged) and groom’s father Narinder Kumar.

Meanwhile, local orchestra groups announced to hold a protest in the town on Tuesday. A candle march to express solidarity with the victim’s family will be taken out.

Accusing the Punjab Government and the district police of inaction in earlier related complaints, representatives of the orchestra groups said they were under threat from people carrying arms at weddings.

“It is the duty of the police to keep a check on the practice. But despite attacks on members of orchestra groups, the government allowed wedding parties to continue all night. This shows that the government is not bothered about such incidents,” alleged president of Virasat Kala Kendra Manch Ramandeep Manga.

He said there were more than 2,000 orchestra groups in Bathinda. “These groups have dancers who are highly literate. But due to lack of employment opportunities, they are forced to follow their hobby of dancing as a profession. Each girl gets around Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for one show. Their security is the biggest concern for the groups,” he said.