Gopalganj/Patna: A groom was reportedly kidnapped during his own wedding ceremony in Gopalganj, Bihar, after a violent altercation broke out between wedding guests and members of a Launda Naach dance troupe, a traditional local performance group.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday in the town police station area. According to eyewitness accounts and family members, tensions escalated when dancers attempted to end their performance, angering some of the wedding guests who demanded the show continue. A physical confrontation ensued, during which dancers were allegedly assaulted and harassed. Muskan, a member of the troupe who identifies as a eunuch, sustained injuries and was later hospitalised.
In a retaliatory act, Muskan reportedly returned at around 2am with a group of supporters, attacked the bride’s family, and abducted the groom, Sonu Kumar Sharma, who was still seated at the mandap (wedding altar) performing post-ceremony rituals.
The police recovered the groom from neighbouring Siwan nine hours later. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, which left several injured, including the bride’s mother, Vidyavati Devi, and sister, Anita Devi.
This is the latest in a spate of troubling incidents surrounding weddings in Bihar. In a separate case in Darbhanga, a bride was kidnapped at gunpoint while travelling to her in-laws’ home. Meanwhile, a mother and her 13-year-old son died in a gas explosion in Siwan on the day of a tilak ceremony.
Bihar police have not confirmed whether any arrests have been made in the Gopalganj case but said a formal complaint has been filed.
