Two persons, including the main accused, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of a pregnant dancer during a marriage ceremony in Bhatinda, police said on Monday.
The accused, Lucky Goel alias Billa, who allegedly shot the dancer dead, and Sanjay Goyal, whose weapon was allegedly used in the incident, have been arrested, Bathinda DSP (Maur) Davinder Singh said.
On Saturday night, 22-year-old Kulwinder Kaur was shot dead on stage allegedly by an inebriated Billa after he was not allowed to dance with her troupe during the marriage function of a local commission agent's son in Maur, Punjab.
A group of the groom's friends, who were allegedly drunk, were firing in the air and tried to come onto the stage to join the dancers, police said.
On being prevented from dancing on stage, one of the men from the group, Billa, allegedly opened fire with his 0.12 bore gun, hitting Kulwinder in the head.
Besides them, police have arrested the owner of the marriage palace, Jagseer Singh, for allowing use of weapons at the venue and a case has been registered against the groom's parents.
Haryana Bans Weapons, Celebratory Firing at Weddings
Following the incident, along with other instances of celebratory firing at weddings, the Haryana government on Monday banned the carrying of weapons at such functions.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas told media in Chandigarh that the order, issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, would be applicable throughout Haryana.
It has been noticed that people often indulged in celebratory firing during weddings after consuming alcohol. Taking serious note of such incidents, the Police department has been directed to put a check on carrying of arms at wedding functions, in coordination with the District Magistrate concerned.
Aerial firing offence is punishable with six months’ imprisonment.
"We have appealed to people to stop their relatives from carrying arms at such functions," said the Home Secretary.
A woman was killed near Karnal town last month when a self-styled godwoman, Sadhvi Deva Thakur, and her armed accomplices fired indiscriminately during a wedding function.
In the wake of the incident, Congress chief Amarinder Singh urged the Election Commission to crack down "immediately on the proliferation of arms" in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
Targeting his rivals before the elections, he said the incident has once again highlighted the "total collapse of law and order in Punjab that is under control of armed gangs being patronised by the Badals".
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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