On Monday, a man was killed by men, chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” at a wedding function in Madhya Pradesh. Reportedly, the attackers belonged to the right-wing.
Police said that it has arrested three men in this case, but till now their connection with any right-wing group is not confirmed.
The wedding function was organised by ‘godman’ Rampal, who has been convicted for a life sentence in connection with six murders – five women and an infant.
According to Rampal's supporters, he follows a peculiar wedding rite known as Ramaini, which lasts barely 17 minutes. According to the attackers, such a marriage is forbidden by Hindu law. Amit Verma, Mandsaur Additional SP, said that the armed men barged into the ceremony, and claimed that such marriages are "illegally" organised.
Mandsaur Additional SP said, “At around 2.00 pm, 10-15 people reached there (the venue of the wedding) and alleged that the wedding was being performed in a wrong manner. They beat up people present there and opened fire.”
“A man named Devilal Meena received bullet injury in the incident. He was referred to a hospital in Kota (Rajasthan). He later succumbed to his injuries,” Amit Verma further said.
Cellphone footage of the incident that has surfaced online, which showed extreme chaos as panicked visitors rushed to get away from the attacker, carrying heavy rods and bamboos.
Former Sarpanch Devilal Meena was shot in the thick of the mayhem. He was transferred to a hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, where he eventually died.
The footage showed the assailant, who was clothed in a red pullover and sunglasses, waving a revolver. It is unknown whether he has been arrested.
Some of the attendees eventually chased the assailants away.