Semi-Feudal Practice of Celebratory Firing During Weddings in Bihar Continues to Kill People

Another man was murdered in Bihar during a celebratory firing at a wedding ceremony on March 3. This is the sixth incident of death in celebratory firing in the state—intentional or accidental—in the past one month, despite the fact that celebratory firing was banned by Bihar government following a guideline from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

However, due to the failure of the police to take action against violators, the practice is still going on in the state.

Dhirender Ram, who was the member of the music band at the wedding party, was shot dead on Sunday late night in Bhabhua, district headquarters of Kaimur. He was shot at by the groom’s close relative, after he had a heated exchange with him, while celebratory firing was going on.

Dhirendra, who was playing the banjo near the bride’s house, refused to play a special tune or song as demanded by Chandan Kumar Singh. Angry over it, Singh, who was under the influence of alcohol (Bihar is a dry state) and part of the group engaging in celebratory firing at the wedding party, shot at Dhirendra, seriously injuring him. Later, he succumbed to his injures on the way to the hospital.

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Following this, Singh fled from the site and has been absconding since then. The police were unable to arrest him till Monday morning.

In another celebratory firing at a wedding party in Bagaha in West Champaign district, a dancer from West Bengal’s Siliguri, Ratna Kumari, 24, was seriously injured on Sunday late night when three bullets hit her.

A district police officer Jitender Kumar said, “The injured dancer is admitted to a local hospital, and is out of danger now. An accused has been arrested in this connection.”

Last month, on February 22, Golu Kumar, 20, a videographer had died after being hit by a bullet in the celebratory firing at a wedding ceremony in Karorichak village under Phulwarisharif police station in Patna district.

“Golu was busy recording the dance of the groom’s marriage party near the bride’s house when some drunk men started celebratory firing. Several bullets hit his head and neck, killing him,” a district police officer Qaiser Alam said.

He further said, “A case was lodged in this connection. Police have begun an investigation into it and interrogated some close relatives of the groom, after detaining them.” Angered by Golu’s killing in celebratory firing, hundreds of local residents staged a protest by blocking the NH 98 and demanded compensation for the family of the victim.

Celebratory Firing is used as a Status Symbol

Celebratory firing is used as a way of displaying money and muscle power during wedding ceremonies, which is common in semi-feudal Bihar, particularly in the rural areas. It is widely seen as a matter of personal prestige in the society. The practice of celebratory firing is common among the powerful and dominant upper castes like Rajput, Bhumihar and OBCs like Yadav, Kurmi and Kushwaha, during the traditional marriage season.

In February 20, a 21-year-old dancer Akriti Singh died after being hit by a bullet in a celebratory firing at a wedding ceremony in Viratpur village under Sonevarsha police station in Saharsa district. District police said that three people were arrested in this connection, but the main accused is absconding.

In the second week of February, a 28-year-old Rahul Kumar was killed in celebratory firing by the groom’s side in a village under Ramour Choueam police station in Arwal district. In a similar incident, another man died after being hit by a bullet in celebratory firing in Bhojpur district on February 9 and another was killed on February 1.

Not just these, cases of serious injuries after being hit by bullets during celebratory firing have been reported from several district including Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Patna, Vaishali and Muzaffarpur districts in the last one month.

In the last week of February 2019, five people including three women were injured in a celebratory firing in a village under Mahua police station in Vaishali district. A district police officer Sunil Kumar said, “When the marriage party was busy in dancing, some people opened fire in air, and five people were injured.”

Mahendar Yadav, a social researcher, told NewsClick that celebratory firing is a legacy of the mindset of semi feudal society, as it is part of the attempt to display firearms during wedding in order to prove their muscle power to others.

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He pointed that the use of firearms during weddings has increased despite the ban. It is a naked display of one’s social status. Mahendar said, “In Bihar, it is not unusual if someone is carrying arms and uses firearms. People are used to celebratory firing during wedding ceremonies, victory processions of political parties and even during religious functions.”

A senior police official admitted that the central government has recently sent a letter to all state governments directing them to take strict action against those who are found guilty of engaging in celebratory firing.

During every marriage season, both during summer and winter, a number of casualties and injuries are reported across Bihar due to celebratory firing in weddings, while a number of cases also go unreported.