A wedding celebration in East Delhi turned tragic when a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot on Saturday night in Shahdara. The accused, a CISF head constable who had come to attend a relative’s wedding, allegedly fired at the teen during a heated confrontation and then left the city. Police later tracked him down in Etawah and arrested him.

Boy Had Paused to Watch the Baraat

According to his family, Saahil had finished a long shift at a neighbourhood grocery shop and was walking home when he saw a baraat heading to a community hall. Several children from the locality had gathered to enjoy the festivities, and he joined them.

As guests tossed currency notes in the air, the boys bent down to pick them up. That is when the situation escalated. One of the wedding attendees was seen grabbing Saahil by the collar and slapping him.

Tabrez Alam, his brother-in-law, said the child reacted only by asking why he was being attacked. “His friend later told us that Saahil asked the man what his fault was. The man got so angry that the boy talked back to him that he pulled out a gun and shot him in the head,” he said.

Family Says Son Was Helping Them Stay Afloat

Neighbours rushed to inform Saahil’s family, who took him to Hedgewar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

His mother, Nisha, said that the teen had taken up daily work after his father suffered a paralytic stroke that left his left arm immobile.

“He was coming home after work… he was just lured by the currency notes and the celebrations,” she said. According to the family, the notes the boy picked up were counterfeit.

The 14-year-old had been earning Rs 6,000 per month for an 11-hour shift at a local shop and was determined to support his parents and six siblings.

“He would tell us that he would grow up and give us a better life,” his mother said.

Accused Was Part of Groom’s Family

The man accused of the shooting, Madan Gopal Tiwari, is a CISF head constable posted in Kanpur. He had come to Delhi to attend the wedding of his cousin, the groom. After the firing, he left for Etawah, where he was arrested.

A senior official involved in the inquiry said the suspect displayed signs of emotional instability. “Following the questioning, we understood that he had some mental health issues… he had trouble keeping his anger at bay,” the officer stated.

Police Outline Sequence of Events

Officers received a call from a passer-by reporting that a child had been shot near the DDA Market community centre. When they reached the spot, they found a crowd gathered around the injured teen.

Witnesses said the conflict began when a group of children moved close to the groom’s horse, prompting adults to tell them to step aside. A quarrel followed. The CISF constable, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, then fired his weapon.

The teen’s father told police his son stopped only because currency notes were being thrown.

“He was collecting some thrown money, which some people there did not like. They beat him up after that. When he did not leave, the man, who was intoxicated, shot him,” he said.

Action Expected Against Officer

A CISF official told TOI that departmental action will follow after judicial procedures.

“When he gets bail, CISF will initiate an inquiry as per the law. If a person is detained for more than 48 hours, the person is deemed to be suspended,” the official said.