On Monday, a Dalit groom’s bridal procession was attack with canes and stones by members of another caste in Madhya Pradesh’s Chattarpur district. Three police officers were injured. The incident occurr due to the Dalit groom mount on a horse.
A member of scheduled caste community, Deepak Meghwal, who sought security for his sister’s wedding, alleged that some members of the Dangi community, an influential OBC caste, had “warned us a few days ago to stop the groom from using horse and playing DJ”. He claimed Dalit grooms are generally not allow to ride the horse in the village.
A case has been registered against at least 50 people of Churai village in the district under the IPC and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 20 people have been detain and police are trying to arrest the other accused.
Bada Malhera sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP) Shashank Jain said that Churai village has two dominant communities, Yadav and Ahirwars, who live in separate localities and have their own temples. The Yadav community does not allow the members of the Ahirwar community to visit their temple.
On Monday evening, Ritesh Ahirwar was riding a horse during his wedding procession in the village. The Yadav community attempted to stop a procession by attacking the groom with canes and stones.
Ritesh’s family informed the police, who arrived immediately and controlled the situation. The rest of the procession proceeded under police protection. The groom and his wedding party left for Shahgarh and returned on Tuesday.