NOIDA: Six members of a family were left critically injured after a dispute over a wedding ritual escalated into violence during a marriage procession in Greater Noida’s Dadri area on Friday night, police said. Two men have been arrested, and a case has been registered against 44 people.The incident took place in Rampur village, where Devendra, a resident of Jaganpur, had travelled with his relatives to attend a wedding. Police said said the violence was triggered during a ritual traditionally performed by the eldest member of the family during the procession. “An argument broke out over the ritual, after which one group retrieved sticks from their vehicles and attacked the other,” a police officer said, adding that all six injured, including a 73-year-old, are undergoing treatment.In his complaint, Devendra identified a man, Leela, along with others surrounded his family, armed with pistols, hockey sticks, iron rods and other weapons. The attackers allegedly issued death threats and vandalised the family’s vehicles. Devendra sustained serious injuries, while his father and uncle lost consciousness during the assault. The FIR was registered against 34 named and 10-15 unnamed people under BNS sections related to attempted murder and other charges. Police said said the violence was triggered during a ritual traditionally performed by the eldest member of the family during the procession. A video of the incident, accessed by TOI, shows several men beating another man with sticks in the middle of a road, while a groom’s chariot stands abandoned nearby and wedding music continues to play. The FIR also points to an old family rivalry. Devendra told police that Leela’s family had allegedly attempted to kill his relatives last year, a case that remains pending in court. He claimed the latest attack was a conspiracy linked to that dispute. Leela’s son, Jitendra, and a relative, Yogesh, were arrested on Saturday.
