While performing the customary celebratory gunfire ceremony at his wedding, an Indian groom tragically accidentally killed his friend.
In a video, Manish Madheshia is seen receiving the gun while standing on a stage; however, he unintentionally fires it at his friend Babulal Yadev, 35, who was watching the ceremony in Robertsganj, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday.
As seen on camera, Madheshia was aiming the gun in the air, but when it didn’t fire, he dropped his arm and unintentionally shot Yadev in the crowd.
The wedding guests screamed and rushed to aid Yadev as they saw the victim collapse to the ground.
Yadev was transported to the hospital but was already dead when they arrived.
Police arrested Madheshia and took several others in for questioning. Officers also seized the licensed pistol, which reportedly belonged to the victim.
Yadev was in the Indian army and had travelled across the country after being given permission to attend the wedding.
Superintendent of Police of Sonbhadra Amrendra, Uttar Pradesh, Pratap Singh confirmed that Madheshia was being charged over the death, according to local reports.
He said: ‘The incident took place during the marriage function organised in Ashirwad Vatika which falls under the police station Robertsganj.
‘A person who’s serving in the army was identified as Babulal Yadav died after being shot during the celebratory firing by the groom – Manish Madheshia.
‘The pistol has also been seized and the probe is underway.’
A shocking number of wedding celebrations in northern India end tragically due to the tradition of celebratory gunfire.
In 2019, a groom was killed by celebratory gunfire and his brother was left fighting for his life in hospital after a friend misfired three bullets from his wedding.
The fatal shot was fired minutes after the groom, Satyendra Kumar, exchanged garlands with his bride, Bhuletan Rai, at a ceremony in the north-eastern city of Patna.
Traditionally celebratory firing is said to be a way to display prestige, money and muscle power.