Man hit by bullet at engagement function, kin say no celebratory firing

MORADABAD: Policemen here are yet to ascertain how a 52-year-old man was hit by bullet that got imbedded in his left thigh at his nephew’s engagement on Wednesday. The family claimed that there was no celebratory firing during the function. However, police are suspicious as they have been changing their statements.
The incident happened during the engagement ceremony in at Surya Nagar situated at Dhakka road under Majhola Kotwali police station.The would-be groom’s uncle, Vinod Sharma, suddenly fell after he was hit by a bullet on the left thigh.
The man was rushed to Sai Hospital where it took a three-hour operation to extract the .32 calibre bullet.
Speaking with TOI, Civil Lines circle officer Rakesh Kumar said, “The family members present at the event have been repeatedly changing their statements about what happened. Without informing police, the bullet-hit injured man was admitted to a private hospital . The injured man’s family alleged that unidentified assailants had fired on Vinod Sharma during the engagement ceremony.
“The story narrated to the police by the injured man and his relatives is totally manufactured. They are hiding facts. The bullet has been sent to the forensic science laboratory. The FSL report revealed that it was .32 calibre bullet. Now,it is proved that a .32 calibre bore firearm was used in firing and it belongs to a licence holder . We have asked the investigating officer to collect the data of all the guests who had attended the engagement ceremony to trace the offender "
Naresh Kumar, SSI posted at Majhola police station, said, “The incident took place when ‘tilak’ ceremony of the would-be groom, Vimal, was going at Pramod Sharma's house at Surya Nagar. Vinod Sharma came to attend the engagement ceremony from Govind Nagar. After the gun fire was reported and Vinod Sharma fell, a stampede-like situation took place.”
On January 18, two women were killed and four suffered bullet injuries due to the celebratory firing in Mundapandey tehsil of the district . Two persons were arrested by the police and sent to the jail. Police also recovered a .12 bore shot gun and .32 calibre revolver from the accused persons used into the firing.