PATNA – In response to the increasing incidents of celebratory gunfire, the Bihar Police Headquarters has come out with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The guidelines were issued for marriage hall operators, Dharamshala operators, the bride’s side, and the police station.
The SOP explicitly stated that legal action would be taken against those not adhering to its guidelines. Wedding venues and hotel owners were mandated to display notice boards stating that the misuse of weapons and aerial firing is against the law.
Within the SOP, the police station incharge was directed to have organizers of weddings and events fill out a declaration form, affirming that they would not allow celebratory gunfire. In case of such incidents, the police station needed to be notified, and there was a provision for videography if the possibility of firing existed.
Additionally, as per requirements, the local administration could impose Section 144 at event venues. Despite these measures, there is no information posted at any marriage hall or hotel in the city regarding celebratory gunfire. Declaration forms are not being obtained from the bride and groom’s parties either.
On May 13, two teenagers, Aman Kumar (13) and Ajit Kumar (12), residents of Molvichak, Nawada, were injured in gunfire at a wedding ceremony near Machli Aadhat, Nawada ward number seven of Dalsinghsarai police station area. Injured teenager Aman Kumar died during treatment in Begusarai.
An FIR was registered in this case, naming three people as accused, of which only one could be arrested. Two accused are still at large.
In most cases of celebratory gunfire, unlicensed weapons are extensively used, and videos of these incidents often go viral on internet media.
While photos or videos may lead to FIR registration, these cases often remain limited to paperwork.
Despite the ban on celebratory gunfire, the continued occurrence of such incidents raises questions about the efficacy of local law enforcement. Due to the local police’s negligence, guns and bullets are fired at weddings, and an indifferent attitude is adopted by the police.
Individuals seek to showcase their status by firing shots at weddings, but the police consistently fail to uphold the law. As a result, gunfire is becoming a regular occurrence at functions, with owning a gun considered a symbol of power.
