Toddler among 3 injured as charas turf feud triggers firing at Meerut walima

Meerut: Three people, including a two-year-old child, were shot during a walima, the reception feast held after a Muslim wedding, after alleged drug traffickers opened fire over a charas turf dispute in Meerut’s Lohia Nagar area on Tuesday night, police said. The firing took place at Star Heritage Mandap, where guests had gathered for dinner, and police said nearly 10 rounds were fired inside the venue.

The injured were identified as Irfan, 35, his brother Raja, 33, and Raja’s son Hammad, 2. Police said Irfan remained critical, while Raja and Hammad were out of danger. The sudden firing triggered panic inside the banquet hall, with guests screaming and running for cover, and several attendees allegedly fled the function without finishing their meal.

Investigators said both groups had allegedly been involved in the illegal charas and ganja trade for a long time and were locked in a dispute over control of the area. SP, city, Vinayak Bhosle said police were checking the criminal background of both sides and had formed teams to arrest the accused.

“Irfan’s condition continues to be critical while the other two are out of danger. As of now, the motive appears to be enmity between two groups where both have criminal antecedents. We are investigating in detail every aspect in this regard. Several teams have been constituted to arrest the culprits,” Bhosle said.

Irfan told TOI from his hospital bed that he was eating dinner when the firing began. “We were having dinner at a marriage event when I was shot from behind. When I turned around, they fired, aiming at my stomach. I tried to save my nephew who was also injured, besides my brother. The attackers were Sohail, Uvesh and Kala and a few others,” he said.

Irfan’s relative Mohd Arif said the attack followed long-standing enmity between the two sides. “It is the result of long-standing enmity between the two groups. About 10 rounds of firing took place at the venue,” he said. Police said the accused fled after the attack and CCTV footage from the banquet hall was seized for examination.