Woman shot dead after marriage function, accused flees

Ranchi: A 21-year-old woman identified as Anita Khalkho died after she was hit by a bullet under mysterious circumstances after a marriage function in Brambe village under the Mandar police station area late on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

Police said the accused, Deepak Kumar, who fired the shot, had gone into hiding and search operations were on to apprehend him.

Mandar police station officer-in-charge Rahul Kumar said, "The woman came from Chanho to her sister's home in Mandar to attend a marriage function. After the ceremony on Monday night, she returned to her sister's home. Deepak, who is close to the victim's brother-in-law, also came to the place as he was asked to spend the night there. Soon, members of the family heard a gunshot and rushed out only to find Khalkho lying on the floor with a bullet injury. She was taken to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), where she died during treatment on Tuesday."

Police said Deepak lives in the Mandar area and has no criminal antecedents. The accused was also involved in celebratory firing during the marriage function. Police added that the circumstances leading to Khalkho's killing and how Deepk got the gun were being investigated.