A Dalit groom was attacked with stones by villagers in Mokhra village in
Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh district for allegedly riding a horse during his wedding procession.
The incident, which occurred Friday, has sparked outrage after a video purportedly showed the groom being targeted during the ceremonial “Rach” procession.
Jitendra Ahirwar was to ride through the village before his wedding procession proceeded to Sagar. However, the mood soured when the suspect, Bhan Kunwar Raja Parmar, allegedly confronted Jitendra, hurling abuses and questioning the audacity of a “low caste person” to ride a mare through their locality. She allegedly began pelting him with rocks and was joined by two others, Surya Pal and Drigpal.
Four people were injured in the incident.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Jitendra said: “It was my wedding day, a moment of happiness for me and my family. We were passing through a neighborhood when they stopped us, threw stones, and told me to dismount the mare and walk barefoot. They insulted us, saying we shouldn’t even wear slippers near their homes.”
Jitendra and his family have lodged a complaint at Badagaon Dhasan police station based on which an FIR was registered against the suspects — Bhan Kunwar Raja Parmar, Surya Pal, and Drigpal — under for assault and caste-based discrimination.
“The woman has been taken into custody, and we are actively searching for the other two accused,” Badagaon Dhasan Station in-charge Narendra Verma told The Indian Express.
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