A child was killed while four others including two minors were injured in celebratory firing at Badaun and Etah respectively in the last 24 hours.
Earlier, the DGP had instructed district police chiefs to take stern action against anyone opening fire to celebrate a occasion. The top cop's diktat, it seems, has failed to cut ice with the district police as firing at functions continue with impunity and loss of lives and injuries are reported every other day.
In Badaun, Pappu aka Kallu and Idris of labhari in Haratpur locality had gone to attend a marriage in Munne Khan’s house in Ujhani area of Badaun on Sunday night. In the process, they took out their double barrel guns and fired to celebrate the occasion. Some guests even objected to it, but they kept on reloading their guns and firing in which Faiz Ali (8) of Sirsauli was killed while two other children Veeru (7) and Neha Sheikh (9) along with a woman Rehana were critically injured. They were rushed to the district hospital.
Sensing trouble, the errants fire a few more rounds in the air scare away the guests and escaped from the spot. A case was registered and efforts were on to track them down them down. Meanwhile in Etah, a youth was seriously injured during a celebratory firing at a wedding on Sunday night.
Ashish (22) had come from Mainpuri to attend the function and was hit by a bullet fired to add spice to the celebration on Sunday night. The victim was admitted to a local hospital from where he was referred to Saifai multi-speciality hospital owing to his critical condition. A case was registered but no one was arrested.
Meanwhile half a dozen persons were killed in separate mishaps across the state during the last 24 hours.
In Shahjehanpur, four youths were killed when a truck overturned on them near Pipraula in Cant area on Monday morning. The incident occurred after the truck driver lost control as a result of which the vehicle turned turtle and fell on Satendra (18) and Sandeep (17) who were on a bike, killing them on the pot. Two pedestrians - Pradeep (18) and Arti (20) too came under the truck and died on the spot. All four victims lived in the same locality.
Enraged by the incident, the locals staged a road blockade in the area demanding action against the driver and compensation to the families of the victims. However, they called off their protest after the local police assured them of necessary and prompt action in the matter. A case was registered and a search was launched to nab the absconding driver.
Meanhile in Maharahganj, a mother-son duo were killed when they were hit by a combine harvesting machine in village Natwa early Monday morning. The incident occurred while wheat was being harvested in the area. The harvesting equipment accidentally hit Suvista Khatoon (28) and her son Suhail (1) killing them on the spot. The driver was later arrested and the victims' bodies were sent for autopsy.
In another incident at Mainpuri, half a dozen persons were arrested for allegedly attacking a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Bichwan area on Monday afternoon.
The incident took place after Shailesh Yadav (24) died due to electrocution at village Saidpur Bagholi. The enraged villages placed the body of Yadav on the road and blocked it. When SDM, Sadar, Gajendra Singh rushed to the site to persuade the villagers to clear the blockade, the crowd attacked him and started pelting stones. The SDM somehow managed to escape unhurt but his jeep was badly damaged.
later police cane charged the unruly mob and also lobbed tear gas shells to chase awasy the trouble makers. Six persons were later arrested in this connection and situation was said to be under control.