Tag: wedding procession

Brahmin Family Allegedly Blocks Wedding Procession of Dalit Groom in Uttar Pradesh

There have been several reports of Dalit wedding processions being attacked or blockaded in the past.

New Delhi: Members of a Brahmin family reportedly stalled the ceremonial wedding procession of baraatis (guests of the bridegroom) of a local girl from the Valmiki sub-caste in Mathura.

According to the Times of India, the incident took place on the night of February 10 – last Sunday – when a Jatav groom, Mahesh Kumar from Peergarhi tappa village, was taking out his wedding procession towards the bride’s home in Musmuna village. The bride’s family members were part of the procession and noticed a tractor-trolley blocking their way to the venue.

The bride’s uncle, Vijayendra Singh told the Times of India that the Brahmin family refused to remove the tractor-trolley when asked, and instead launched casteist slurs and even manhandled some of the family members.

Also read: Dalit Policeman’s Wedding Procession Attacked in Rajasthan

The Brahmin family finally removed the tractor-trolley after the bride’s family members called the police. Despite that, Singh claimed that a few youths from the Brahmin family stopped the DJ from playing music. In order to salvage the situation, the baraatis decided to go to the bride’s house without the procession and music.

When the bride’s family went to the police station on Tuesday, a compromise was arrived at and the Brahmin family apologised.

There have been several reports of Dalit wedding processions being attacked or blockaded in the past.

Most recently, on Saturday, a Dalit policeman’s wedding procession was allegedly attacked by upper caste Rajput men in Dugar village of Rajasthan. The groom claimed the procession was attacked and he was verbally humiliated.

The groom Sawai Ram also alleged the assailants attacked the procession with sharp weapons after people tried to stop the Rajput men, resulting in injuries for many.

A case was registered against more than 12 people on Sunday and the matter is being investigated.

Dalit Policeman’s Wedding Procession Attacked in Rajasthan

The groom said upper caste Rajput men attacked his procession. Police have booked a case against 12 people.

New Delhi: A Dalit policeman’s wedding procession or baraat was attacked, allegedly by upper caste Rajput men, on Saturday in Dugar village of Rajasthan. The police registered a case on Sunday.

Some people have been detained by the police, who are on the lookout for more men connected to the incident.

The groom Sawai Ram said his wedding procession was attacked as it was about to enter Dugar village.

He claimed that people from the Rajput caste attacked the procession and verbally humiliated him. When people tried to stop the Rajput men, they attacked the procession back with sharp weapons and left many injured, he said.

Police inspector Ajit Singh said Ram’s statement was recorded on Sunday. “A case has been registered under relevant sections against more than 12 people. The matter is being investigated. Action will be taken against the culprits,” he said.

There have been several reports of Dalit wedding processions being attacked or denied permission. In April last year, a Dalit groom was attacked for riding a horse in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district. Eight years ago, the groom’s brother was also not allowed to conduct a marriage procession. Similar incidents were reported in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Last July in UP’s Kasganj, Sanjay Jatav became the first Dalit groom in at least 80 years to lead a marriage procession through his village.

Rajasthan records a high number of atrocity cases against Dalits and tribals. According to the latest available statistics, the state had the second worst crime rate of atrocities against Dalits. Only Madhya Pradesh fared worse.

During the recently concluded assembly elections in the state, analysts said the rising caste crimes against Dalits and scheduled tribes was one reason for the BJP’s loss. While the Congress has promised to tackle hate crimes and discrimination against Dalits, the lynching of a Muslim man in late December and the Dugar village incident have brought it under a cloud.