A wedding celebration in Bihar’s Gopalganj district turned tragic when a 32-year-old orchestra dancer was allegedly shot dead after refusing to comply with the demands of a group of youths attending the event.
The victim, identified as Sonu Gond, was a resident of Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh and worked as an orchestra performer. The incident occurred during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday in Patohwa village under the jurisdiction of Kateya police station.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the wedding ceremony was being held at the residence of Mahendra Kushwaha, whose daughter was getting married. A wedding procession had arrived from Uttar Pradesh, and an orchestra performance had been arranged as part of the celebrations.
Witnesses said Sonu had been performing on stage for several hours when, around midnight, three youths allegedly approached him and repeatedly pressured him to accompany them and dance according to their wishes. However, Sonu reportedly refused their demands.
Ramnarayan Yadav, the owner of the orchestra troupe, stated that after declining the requests, Sonu stepped away from the stage and went to rest in a tent located behind the wedding venue.
Police said the three youths later attempted to take him to a secluded area. When he resisted, one of the accused allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot him in the stomach. The dancer collapsed immediately after sustaining the injury.
The sound of the gunshot caused panic among guests and local residents, who rushed to the scene. Sonu was taken for medical treatment, but he died before reaching the hospital.
Following the shooting, the accused fled from the venue. Police arrived shortly after receiving information about the incident and began an investigation.
According to police officials, the suspects have been identified and efforts are underway to apprehend them. An FIR has been registered against five named individuals in connection with the case.
SHO Awadhesh Kumar said police teams are conducting raids to arrest the accused and determine the exact circumstances that led to the murder.
“The accused have been identified and raids are underway. A case has been registered against five named persons, and investigations are continuing to establish the motive behind the crime,” the officer said.
The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Sonu is survived by his wife, three young children, and a younger brother, all of whom were reportedly dependent on him for financial support.
The incident has shocked residents of the area and raised concerns about security at public celebrations, where disputes can sometimes escalate into serious acts of violence. Police said further action will be taken once the accused are taken into custody and questioned.
