Buxar, Bihar, February 25, 2026 — A joyous wedding ceremony in Bihar’s Buxar district turned into a scene of horror on Tuesday night when an 18-year-old bride was shot in the stomach while exchanging garlands with her groom on stage.
The victim, identified as Aarti Kumari, daughter of Nandji Mallah, was standing beside her to-be husband during the traditional (garland exchange) ritual around 11 PM at Mallah Tola in Chausa Nagar Panchayat, under Chausa (Mufassil) police station limits. A man from the crowd, later identified by family and police as her neighbour Deenbandhu , allegedly fired a single shot. The bullet struck Aarti near her navel.
Eyewitnesses said the loud music at the venue initially drowned out the gunshot. Panic broke out only when Aarti suddenly collapsed, bleeding heavily from her abdomen. Family members and guests rushed to her aid. Before being shifted, Aarti reportedly named her attacker, telling relatives, “Deenbandhu shot me.”
The incident appears to stem from a one-sided obsession. According to police and family accounts, Deenbandhu — a local resident — had reportedly been pursuing Aarti for nearly two years despite her arranged marriage being fixed with a groom from Sulemanpur village in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh. He is alleged to have harassed her and even the groom’s family earlier, leading to tension. Police described it as linked to a “love affair” that was not mutual.
Aarti was immediately rushed by family and locals to Sadar Hospital in Buxar. Doctors declared her condition critical and referred her to the Trauma Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where she remains on ventilator support as of Wednesday evening.
Chausa Additional Station House Officer Chandan Kumar confirmed the details and said raids are underway to arrest the absconding accused. “The prima facie investigation points to a personal dispute stemming from a love angle,” he told reporters. Police have detained Deenbandhu’s parents for questioning. The accused has a prior criminal record, including a liquor case.
The shocking attack, captured on video circulating widely on social media, has left the entire locality in mourning and sparked outrage over women’s safety and unchecked obsession. The wedding procession from Uttar Pradesh returned immediately after the tragedy.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, and are intensifying the manhunt. Further updates on Aarti’s condition and the arrest are awaited.
This incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to address stalking and rejection-related violence in rural India.
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