Photographer shot dead at wedding

Tribune News Service

Panipat, November 19

A photographer was shot at in Ahar village of Madlauda area during a pre-wedding ceremony on Monday who succumbed to his injuries during an operation in a private hospital in the wee hours on Tuesday.

The police suspected it to be a case of celebratory firing. The Madlauda police booked groom’s friend under Section 302 of the IPC and Section 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act.

The deceased was identified as Sohan Bhardwaj of Azaad Nagar, who was actually a native of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and was living here with his wife and children.

According to the police, the photographer went to cover a ghurchari (a pre-wedding ceremony) programme of an army personnel Sachin of Ahar village.

ASI Sachin Kumar, in-charge Urlana police post in his statement said he went to record the statement of the injured in a private hospital, but the doctors declared him unfit for it. In the wee hours later, he was informed that the deceased died during the treatment, he added.

He said, during preliminary investigation it was revealed that Naresh Rawal of Nanhera village, a friend of groom, came with a weapon at the wedding and shot a fire on the photographer.

Besides, Azaad, a friend of the deceased told that he (Sohan) had made a call to him and urged to save him. He said the villagers came to Panipat after an hour due to which his condition deteriorated and he died.

ASI Sachin Kumar said primarily the matter seemed to be of celebratory firing but it would be more clear after detailed investigation.

The state government had banned carrying weapons in wedding functions. The government had issued prohibitory orders in the state through district magistrates regarding ban on celebratory firing in 2016.

Besides, the photographers’ association also held a meeting and condemned the incident and demanded stringent action against the accused.