Daijiworld Media Network – Ludhiana

Ludhiana, Nov 30: A wedding celebration in Ludhiana turned tragic in the early hours of Sunday after a violent clash between two rival local gangs left two guests dead and one injured at Bath Castle resort on Pakhowal Road.

Police said the gunfight broke out around 1 am when members of gangs led by Shubham Mota and his rival Ankur exchanged nearly 20 rounds of fire inside the venue. The victims, identified as groom’s maternal aunt Neeru Chhabra and neighbour Vasu Chopra, died of bullet injuries. Another guest is undergoing treatment.

According to the FIR, both groups — armed and carrying weapons — had been invited to the wedding of Varinder Kapoor. Those named include Ankur, Jasvir Singh alias Jassi, Rubal Pardhan, Jatinder Kumar Dabur and others, while the second group includes Shubham Mota, Yuvraj Singh and unidentified accomplices. Police have arrested six suspects so far.

The firing triggered panic as guests ran for cover. The high-profile wedding was attended by several politicians, MLAs and officials, police sources said.

Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said the wedding venue management has also been booked for repeatedly violating security norms, and the groom for “inviting notorious elements”. Mota, currently out on bail, has at least six previous cases including attempt to murder.

However, groom Kapoor denied inviting the gang members, saying he was unaware of how the men entered the venue. “Festivities are over for us. My aunt and neighbour died. We did not invite any such people,” he told local media.

AAP MLA Ashok Parashar Pappi, who was invited, said he did not attend the event. The reception, scheduled for Sunday, has been cancelled.