Row at wedding turns into communal tiff, 1 dead in Gorakhpur

What started as a minor scuffle over lewd remarks at a dancer of an orchestra party at a marriage reception on the DAV College campus in Gorakhpur, soon led to communal tension claiming the life of one person and injuring five. This forced the district administration to clamp curfew in three sensitive areas of the city — Raj Ghat, Kotwali and Tiwaripur.

The incident occurred late on Friday night when arguing with the orchestra members, a group of youths led by Pankaj Rai, a student leader of DAV, came out of the venue and opened fire. While the orchestra party left the place, participants of a Moharram procession passing by reportedly mistook it for an attack on them. During the ensuing clash, one person, who was grievously injured, died on way to hospital. Five persons sustained serious injuries and were admitted to district hospital.

Subsequently, a place of worship was damaged in the Ismailpur area and six shops were set on fire by rioters near the railway station. Reports of stone-pelting from Ismailpur and Indira Crossing continued to come in till late Saturday evening.