Sadhvi Deva Thakur, a self-proclaimed Indian god-woman who was on the run for three days after firing celebratory shots in the air at a wedding, has surrendered to a court. The groom's aunt was killed and three of his relatives critically wounded in the incident.
In a video of the incident that took place on Tuesday in the northern state of Haryana, Sadhvi Deva Thakur is first seen firing from a revolver and then a double-barrelled gun. A few of her guards are also seen shooting along with her.
The police had booked Deva Thakur along with her gunmen and associates. After the incident, SP Karnal Pankaj Nain had said, “Police have booked Sadhvi Devi Thakur and her associates under Section 302 of IPC and Arms Act. Raids were conducted at several places, but the accused are absconding.”
The incident occurred at Savitri Marriage Palace in Karnal. Deva Thakur, along with six to seven persons, came to attend the ceremony. All of them were carrying arms.
Sumit Bhatia, manager of the venue, said the Sadhvi and her accomplices started firing indiscriminately during the function.
“As soon as the firing started, we called the police as this is not allowed. In the meantime, the pistol of one of them got stuck. While rectifying it, a shot was fired causing injuries to those present,” he said.
The victim, Suman (50) succumbed to her injuries. Deva Thakur and the rest had fled from the spot.
I DIDN'T DO IT
Declaring that she regretted the death, Sadhvi Deva Thakur claimed that she was being framed and that she was unwell.
"I am innocent, I need urgent medical attention...it's a conspiracy against me, there were other people who were firing," she told reporters.
The "Sadhvi" was produced before a magistrate amid tight security.
The saffron-robed and gold-laden Deva Thakur and her guards are seen in video footage firing several shots in the air at the wedding on Tuesday, while dancing to a song they had requested. They allegedly aimed at the crowded dance floor, leaving the woman dead and three relatives of the groom injured.
As the groom's aunt collapsed, the gang ran away. Deva Thakur's ashram has been sealed and two luxury vehicles have been impounded.
The so-called god-woman's aides in the video are still missing, including the man whose bullet allegedly killed the woman. Senior district police officials say special teams have been sent to various locations to catch them.
