Boy killed in firing during wedding in Punjab

Banur (Punjab), March 22 (IANS) A 14-year-old boy died Sunday after being accidentally shot in the abdomen during celebratory firing to mark a wedding, the police said.

According to the police, Parvez Mohammad (14) was one of the members in the marriage procession that came to the town in Patiala district, 30 km from Chandigarh, from a nearby village. Prem Singh, who was also the part of procession, was continuously firing in the air in elation and one of the bullets hit Mohammed.

The youth was immediately rushed to civil hospital here from where he was referred to a government hospital in Chandigarh, where he succumbed to the injury, the police said.

The police have arrested Prem Singh (34), a native of Uttar Pradesh, and seized the .32 bore pistol from his possession. During questioning, he said the pistol was licensed but the police are investigating the claim.

According to an eyewitness, Singh was drunk and was not listening to repeated pleas not to fire from the weapon.