Groom shot dead at wedding by uncle's stray celebratory bullet

A newly-wed groom was accidentally shot dead by his uncle as he fired his gun in the air to celebrate the marriage.

By Dean Nelson in New Delhi
Published: 1:38PM GMT 19 Feb 2010

Pankaj Kishore Karotia, 21, was just about to claim his new bride and take her from a wedding reception to her family home when his uncle drew his licensed handgun to fire a final shot in celebration. As he was loading it, it fired accidentally and hit his newly-wed nephew in the head.

The reception party was almost finished when the tragedy happened. His new bride was waiting for him in the car as he died.

The groom's father said the uncle was "eager and excited" about the wedding and wanted to fire another shot to make the end of the celebrations.

A police spokesman said "the bullet made a hole in the brain" and confirmed the uncle had been arrested for culpable homicide.

Gunfire has become an increasingly popular celebration custom at lavish Indian weddings in recent years.

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7271134/Groom-shot-dead-at-wedding-by-uncles-stray-celebratory-bullet.html