Dalit groom riding horse, wedding procession attacked
JAIPUR: While we were trying to cross Gujjar locality, we were faced with a group of some 40 people from the community who objected to us taking out the bindori. They told us, ‘Why have you brought procession here?’ BHANWAR, an MA student at the government college in Bhilwara
People from a dominant caste attacked a pre-wedding procession of a Dalit man in Bhilwara, allegedly because the groom was riding a horse.
One person was injured in the attack for which the police have taken six people into custody.
Dalit wedding processions with the groom riding a horse are often attacked in the state owing to caste-based customs and traditions.
The pre-wedding procession (bindori) of Uday Lal Regar (22) started from his house at 8pm on Sunday, said Bhanwar Lal Regar (24), the groom’s elder brother. “While we were trying to cross the Gujjar locality, we were faced with a group of some 40 people from the Gujjar community who objected to us taking out the bindori. They told us, ‘Why have you brought the procession here?’” said Bhanwar, an MA student at the government college in Bhilwara.
He added that the police team, which was accompanying them on a prior request, told them to stop and return from there. “As we were returning, they attacked us. They beat 3-4 of our men and one of them sustained an injury in the ribs. They also pulled my brother down from the mare and slapped him. Another one hit the mare’s legs with his stick,” said Bhanwar.
The attackers hurled casteist abuses at the men in the procession. “They said, ‘How dare you ride a horse? If you want to live here, live the way you are supposed to. We won’t let you live here otherwise,’” he said.
He alleged that the police team, including the Kareda station house officer, became a mute spectator when they were attacked.
The police said they intervened during the attack and ensured that law and order did not deteriorate. “We also arrested six persons for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and under sections of the SC/ST Act,” said Shivji Lal, station house officer, Kareda.