GUJRANWALA: Cantonment police arrested a bridegroom, his father, a brother and some relatives on Sunday for firing in the air at a henna ceremony on Saturday.
A cousin of the groom was injured in the jubilation firing. He was taken to a hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger.
On Sunday, a police team, headed by Station House Officer Chaudhry Sajid Nazir, raided Kashmir Colony resident Basharat Raja’s wedding at a banquet hall near Pindi Bhattian by-pass.
On seeing the police, the SHO said, the bridegroom changed into a waiter’s uniform and tried to flee through the kitchen.
He was, however, arrested and taken to the police station.
When the groom’s father, brother and some relatives went to the police station seeking for his release, they, too, were arrested.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the groom’s mother said that no one at the wedding had fired a gun. She said her family did not have any idea about where the stray bullets came from. She said the police should have looked for the person who was firing, rather than arresting her sons and husband. She said no one at the wedding had been armed.
The SHO said that some guests at Raja’s henna ceremony on Saturday night had fired in the air, injuring the groom’s cousin, Zulqarnain, 24.
The SHO said that the groom and his relatives were arrested since they were nominated in the FIR registered on Saturday. Others nominated in the FIR include Nauman alias Nomi, Jibran Ali, Anser and Bhola.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2013.