Two shot dead as rival groups clash during wedding in Amritsar

A man objected to a rival’s presence at the function, after which both of them called their aides, leading to a clash between the two groups.

Two persons were shot dead and as many were injured on Monday evening as two groups clashed during a wedding ceremony in a marriage palace at Khaparkheri village, nearly 10km from Amritsar city.

A policeman with a gun that was recovered from the spot where the shooting took place at Khaparkheri village near Amritsar on Wednesday (HT Photo)

The wedding ceremony of a girl of the same village was going on in the banquet hall when two rivals Manpreet Singh alias Manga (30), a friend of the bride’s brother, of nearby Haweliana village and Harinder Singh (31) arrived there. Both were invited to the function. The marriage palace is situated along Gurdwara Sun Sahib road.

Harinder objected to Manga’s presence at the function on which the latter returned with his aides while carrying firearms. On this, Manga also called his aides who also had weapons, leading to a clash between the two groups.

The two had an old enmity, the police said.

Harinder and his aides opened firing at Manga. In retaliation, the other group also fired gunshots. Both Harinder and Manga were killed, while the bride’s brother Gurpreet and another relative Ranbir Singh were injured.

The injured were rushed to hospital.

At the time of incident which took place at around 4.30pm, the bride and her groom were in a gurdwara for ‘anand karaj’, reports said.

Reports suggested that the number of injured could be more. The police were also not clear about the number of injured.

Khasa police post incharge assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhdev Singh said senior police officers reached the spot and started investigation. A case was being registered, he said.