A 32-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a bullet allegedly fired accidentally during preparations for celebratory gunfire at her infant son’s ‘Chhathi’ ceremony in Gwalior on Sunday.
Police said the victim, Jahnavi alias Jyoti Kushwah, died on the spot after suffering a gunshot wound to the head during the family gathering held to celebrate the birth of her son.
Gun Discharged While Being Handled
The incident occurred in the Tripti Nagar area, where relatives and guests had assembled for the traditional ceremony.
According to investigators, Jyoti’s brother-in-law, Yogesh Kushwah, was allegedly handling a country-made pistol and preparing for celebratory firing between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. He was reportedly loading and unloading the weapon repeatedly when it accidentally discharged.
The bullet struck Jyoti as she was sitting nearby. She collapsed immediately and died before medical assistance could be arranged, police said.
Family Allegedly Tried to Conceal Death
Rather than informing authorities or taking the victim to a hospital, police allege that her husband, Manoj Kushwah, and Yogesh attempted to hide the incident.
Investigators claim the two men arranged a large deep freezer and placed Jyoti’s body inside to slow decomposition while they planned to cremate her quietly later that night without notifying police.
To avoid raising suspicion, neighbours were allegedly told that the woman had died due to an illness.
Suspicious Neighbour Alerted Police
The alleged cover-up began to unravel when a local resident became suspicious and informed police late on Sunday.
Officers from Thatipur police station arrived at the residence and recovered the woman’s body from the freezer. By the time police reached the scene, Manoj and Yogesh had reportedly fled after noticing police vehicles approaching the area.
Investigation Underway
Police have sent the body for a postmortem examination and called in forensic experts to inspect the house and collect evidence.
Investigators are also searching for the country-made pistol allegedly involved in the incident and are attempting to determine how the firearm was obtained.
Case Registered Against Husband and Brother-in-Law
Authorities have registered a case against Manoj Kushwah and Yogesh Kushwah for allegedly concealing the death and attempting to dispose of the body without informing law enforcement.
Police are continuing efforts to locate the accused and recover the weapon as the investigation progresses.
Celebratory Firing Under Scrutiny
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of celebratory firing, a practice that continues to cause injuries and fatalities in several parts of India despite repeated warnings from authorities. Even when intended as a festive gesture, the use of firearms in celebrations can have tragic and irreversible consequences.
