Uncle Shoots Child's Parents In Front Of Guests At Her Birthday Party: Police

KEY POINTS

An Indian man, 25, allegedly shot his brother and sister-in-law in front of family members during his niece's birthday party
The man argued with his brother over land distribution prior to and during the event, police said
The two victims were taken to a hospital in critical condition and are undergoing treatment

A 25-year-old man in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh shot his brother and sister-in-law due to a land dispute while the couple was celebrating their daughter's eighth birthday over the weekend, authorities said.

The man, identified as Moolchand, was arrested after he allegedly fired four rounds from his pistol at his brother, Mohit Sharma, and his brother's wife, Pooja, in the village of Khidarpur in Bulandshahr Saturday night, The Times of India reported, citing Khanpur station house officer Shatrughan Yadav.

The couple's daughter, Harshita Sharma, was cutting her birthday cake when Moolchand, who also went by the alias Moola Kumar, started shooting, unnamed guests at the party alleged.

According to the witnesses, Harshita pleaded with her uncle to let her parents go, but Moolchand ignored her.

Moolchand and Mohit had argued over the distribution of paternal land prior to the party and during the event, police alleged.

"The family and guests were all stunned and couldn't do much when he took out the pistol," Yadav was quoted as saying.

"Most of them initially thought that it was celebratory firing," the officer added.

Moolchand later left the scene while waving his pistol in the air, unnamed sources said.

Mohit and Pooja were critically injured from the shooting and were taken to a hospital in Delhi. They are reportedly still undergoing treatment.

Moolchand was later arrested. It was unclear what charges he faces over the incident.

A similar incident happened in California earlier this month when a man was arrested for shooting several people at a birthday party during an argument.

Police in Oakley were called to a home located along Malicoat Avenue on Nov. 7 after callers reported hearing screaming and gunfire.

Responders arrived at the location, where a birthday party was being held, and attempted to save two men who were shot, but the men died at the scene despite efforts to revive them. The victims were described as a 44-year-old Hispanic man and a 28-year-old Black man.

Two other people, a 53-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, both Hispanic, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

An unnamed 22-year-old man known to the four victims was taken into police custody following the incident.