Thakurs join Dalit girls’ marriage celebration in Saharanpur village
MEERUT: After days of tension following caste clashes, residents of Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur district had a reason to celebrate as a Dalit family solemnised the marriage of two girls on Friday.
Adding to the merriment, a few Thakurs, including former head of Shabbirpur Om Singh, joined the celebrations in an attempt to revive the trust, lost due to the clashes between Dalits and Rajputs. As a goodwill gesture, they even performed ‘kanyadaan’ of the daughters of Dalit resident Fakeerchand.
Others who attended the function included former head of neighbouring Mahespur village Thakur Nakli Singh, Jasbir and Dinesh. Secretary, home, Mani Prasad Mishra said the development was a positive sign and would help in building confidence between the two communities.
Circle officer, Deoband, Siddharth Kumar and officials from Deoband tehsil were deputed at the venue to ensure security. The police deployed in the village after the May 5 violence kept close vigil in the area to ensure no untoward incident took place.
Fakeerchand’s father Dharampal was concerned over the safety of the ‘baratis’ arriving in the village but the function passed off peacefully. No sooner did the two marriage parties from Janipur and Sheetal villages reach Shabbirpur, tension in the atmosphere disappeared as the ‘baratis’ danced to the beats of drums. Besides Dharampal and Fakeerchand, the brides’ uncles Pappu and Gopichand also welcomed the ‘baratis’. The family members said they faced no problem in organising the function and the guests were also happy. Jagat Singh Mukhiya, a Rajput, said usually Dalit and upper caste members did not attend each other’s marriage functions. “Dalits were celebrating and there was no tension in the village now,” he said.
DM Pramod Kumar Pandey and SSP Bablu Kumar had visited Shabbirpur on Thursday and assured adequate security to villagers. Caste violence broke out in Shabbirpur after Rajputs set afire over 50 hutments of Dalits following a dispute over a procession being taken out by upper caste members.