Gujarat: 1 dead, 2 injured after neighbour opens fire amid fight over fireworks

One woman died and two people were injured after a dispute over the bursting of firecrackers between two neighbours escalated into a violent clash in Gujarat’s Mehsana, officials said.
The scuffle broke out in the Abhinav Bungalows neighbourhood on November 2 (Saturday) when Bhagirath Singh Rana, a resident celebrating Gujarati New Year by bursting crackers, was confronted by the family of his neighbour, Bankesh Nayak, who objected to the noise.
Tensions quickly escalated as words turned to blows, resulting in a physical altercation between the two families. During the fight, Bhagirath Singh reportedly fired six to seven rounds from his licenced revolver, with two of the bullets hitting two members of the Nayak family, injuring them severely.
The violence also resulted in the death of Rana’s 66-year-old wife, Sudhaben, who suffered a severe head injury during the scuffle. According to the Rana family, Sudhaben was allegedly pushed off a rooftop in the midst of the brawl, resulting in her immediate death.
Deputy Superintendent of Police in Mehsana noted that tensions between the two families had existed prior to this incident, but the New Year’s night disagreement over firecrackers intensified the dispute.
“There was already a dispute between two neighbours but today, on New Year’s Day, the quarrel increased over the bursting of crackers. Accused Bhagirath Singh Rana was bursting crackers when his neighbour Nayak family’s men objected to it, after which there was a fight between the two neighbours and Bhagirath Singh opened fire,” the DSP said.
Bhagirath Singh reportedly fired between five and seven rounds before police arrived at the scene. The police have since seized two revolvers from him.
Both families have lodged complaints against each other. The Nayak family filed a case against Bhagirath Singh Rana for the gunfire, while Rana’s family held the Nayak family responsible for Sudhaben’s death.
The police have registered two separate cases on the basis of the complaints and further investigation into the matter is underway.