Tarn Taran: An Indian Army soldier was shot dead for objecting to celebratory firing – an illegal activity – at a colleague’s wedding in Punjab’s Tarn Taran on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Gursewak Singh (28), a resident of Khadoor Sahib. According to The Tribune, he was married just a week ago.
The police said that Singh had gone to Malmohri in Tarn Taran on Thursday night to attend the wedding celebrations of a fellow soldier.
Music was being played by a DJ and some youths were allegedly dancing and firing in
discriminately in the air. Singh reportedly objected to this celebratory firing, which is a criminal offence under the Arms Act.
On being asked to stop, the youths apparently opened fire at Singh, injuring him critically. He was rushed to a private hospital in Tarn Taran where he died on Friday.
The police have registered an FIR in the matter and are looking for the accused. SHO Gurcharan Singh has been quoted as saying that the statements of witnesses and others present at the venue are being recorded.
Celebratory firing, even with licenced firearms, is an offence under the Arms Act. It can lead to a two-years prison sentence and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Several people, including brides and grooms, have been killed accidentally due to celebratory firing over the last several years.
In 2024, the Supreme Court frowned on the practice, ordering authorities to take stringent action against those involved in such activities.