Wedding Celebration Turns Tragic in Hardoi Village
A joyous wedding celebration in Hardoi district turned into a scene of horror and tragedy when a dispute over playing music led to the fatal shooting of a DJ operator's father. The incident occurred late Thursday night in Nevada Vijay village under the Atarouli police station limits, leaving the community in shock.
The violent confrontation erupted when the groom's brothers-in-law, identified as Akash and Akhilesh Gautam, arrived at the DJ platform in an intoxicated state and demanded that the music be restarted after the official program had concluded.
The Fatal Confrontation Over Music
The wedding ceremony involved the marriage of Tikaram Raidas's daughter with groom Vikas from Jehata, Lucknow. Amit, who operates the "New Aashish DJ Floor" service, had been hired to provide music for the event and had properly concluded his program around midnight in compliance with government regulations regarding permissible music hours.
When Akash and Akhilesh Gautam insisted on restarting the music despite the late hour, Amit refused to violate the rules. This refusal triggered an aggressive response from the intoxicated duo, who allegedly began manhandling the DJ operator. Fearing for his safety, Amit called his father Puttulal (45) and elder brother Aashish for assistance.
Upon arriving at the scene, Puttulal and Aashish attempted to calm the situation and reason with the groom's relatives. However, their intervention only seemed to escalate the tension. Akash reportedly boasted about his wealth and social standing, claiming to be the chairman of a Lucknow-based property firm and asserting that he could "buy the entire family along with the DJ floor."
The Deadly Shooting and Aftermath
The situation reached its tragic climax when Akhilesh Gautam allegedly instructed his companion, "Nikaalo aslahaa, maaro goli… main vakilon se sab nipat loonga" (Take out the weapon, shoot him, I'll manage the lawyers).
In response to this instruction, Akash pulled out a firearm from his waistband and shot Puttulal in the abdomen. The 45-year-old father collapsed instantly at the scene.
Puttulal was immediately rushed to the hospital by his son Aashish and other wedding attendees, but medical officials declared him dead upon arrival. The accused individuals fled the scene in a separate vehicle, abandoning their Jaguar car with registration number UP 32 FS 0090 at the wedding venue.
Multiple eyewitnesses, including Arun and Rinku (colleagues of Amit) and several wedding guests, provided consistent accounts of the sequence of events to investigating authorities.
Police Response and Arrests
Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena confirmed that law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting Akhilesh Gautam within hours of the incident. The accused has been formally booked for murder charges, while efforts continue to locate and apprehend his accomplice, Akash.
The abandoned Jaguar vehicle has been seized as evidence, and police are investigating the ownership of the firearm used in the shooting. The case highlights continuing concerns about violence at social functions and the enforcement of regulations regarding public celebrations.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate into violence, turning what should be a celebration of life and union into a scene of unimaginable tragedy for families involved.
