U’KHAND: DALIT GROOM FORCED TO GET DOWN FROM HORSE

RUDRAPUR: A Dalit man was allegedly forced to dismount from a horse during his wedding procession in Uttarakhand’s Almora district, prompting the district administration to order a probe to verify the complaint, senior officials said on Wednesday.

According to district officials, the incident took place on Monday and the groom’s father Darshan Lal, a resident of Thala Tariyal village , handed over a complaint to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) on Tuesday. In his complaint, Lal alleged that some villagers stopped his son Vikram Kumar’s wedding procession and forced him to dismount from the horse as he belonged to the Dalit community, officials added. The groom’s father also alleged that the villagers threatened to kill his son and hurled casteist slurs, officials said quoting from the complaint.

Almora district magistrate Vandana Singh has set up an inquiry into the incident. “Strict action will be taken if the complaint is found genuine,” said the DM.