SIRAHA; Two persons were killed when an unidentified group of persons opened fire in a wedding ceremony at Majhouliya-6 in Aranga, Siraha, last night, police said today.

According to the Area Police Office, Mirchaiya, 22-year old tent businessman Dilip Shah of Mirchaiya-2 and 12-year old Bijay Bhandari of Majhouliya-6 were killed in the incident.

Shah was killed on the spot, while Bhandari died on the way to a hospital. Their bodies have been kept in the Siraha hospital for post mortem.

The incident took place when the wedding ceremony of one Rampati Thakur’s daughter with Ganga Thakur’s son of Mirchaiya Bazaar was on in full swing. The unidentified persons barged into the function and opened fire when people there were dancing.

The police said the men opened indiscriminate fire and fled the scene. The shooting sparked a stampede in the function, which, however, went on and the ceremony was concluded.

Ashok Yadav, a local, said the criminals fled before the police arrived at the scene two hours after being informed of the incident.

Locals protested the shootout and blocked traffic on the Mirchaiya section of the East-west Highway for about three hours this morning. Police had to intervene to resume the traffic flow.

Sanuram Bhattarai,Inspector, APO, Mirchaiya, said the culprits are yet to be identified. He added that Chhotu Miya, Kalam Miya Israil Miya Mustak Rain and Aslam Rain of Aranga have been held for investigation.