Young Lady Shot Dead During Celebratory Firing at Temple Ceremony
In a tragic incident in the remote village of Rohru in Shimla district, a 26‑year‑old woman, Ritika, was killed by a stray bullet during a celebratory firing at a religious ceremony. She had gone to Andhra village to attend the consecration of a newly constructed temple dedicated to Shalu Maharaj, where a large number of villagers had gathered for the auspicious event.
While devotees were celebrating with traditional music, dance, and ritual firing, a man shot a gun, and the bullet struck Ritika, killing her on the spot. The accused, reportedly from Rohru market, fled immediately but was later arrested by the police. Shimla Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said a case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 25 of the Indian Arms Act at Chirgaon police station, with further investigation underway.
Police have seized the weapon used in the incident, questioned eyewitnesses, and collected crucial evidence from the crime scene. The incident has sparked public outrage, with locals and rights groups demanding an end to celebratory firing with live weapons at religious and festive events, which have repeatedly led to the deaths of innocent bystanders, including women and children, across India.
