Pawan Malviya, a Dalit groom had to don a helmet during his marriage procession as upper caste locals opposed to the idea of the groom riding a horse pelted stones at him and also took away the animal.
The incident took place on May 10 night at Negrun village under the Taal Police station area in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district, causing injuries to at least five persons including an Additional Tehsildar K L Jain, said Taal Police Station in-charge, Suresh Balraj on Tuesday.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and SC/ST Act against 72 people in this regard. Besides a case of arson was also registered against four others in the matter, he said.
According to the bride's father Puralal, upper caste people in the area were opposing the idea of the groom riding on a horseback as part of the marriage procession and also took away the 'ghodi' (female horse) that was arranged by our family for the purpose.
"Sensing trouble, I had informed the police in advance following which the sub-divisional officer of police and the sub-divisional magistrate reached the village along with some force to ensure that the marriage procession passed through without trouble," he said.
After the upper caste people took away the horse, another was arranged by the family and in the presence of policemen, the procession was taken out with groom Pavan riding the horse.
However, irked upper caste persons started pelting stones on the groom and others, he said. The police officials then arranged a helmet and asked the groom to wear it as a precautionary measure following which the procession passed from Negrun streets, the police official said.
After the marriage ceremony got over and the bride left with her groom, Puralal reached the Taal police station and filed a complaint in this regard. A case was registered against Shravan Singh and 71 others in this regard. 27 people have already been arrested by SC/ST Police Station’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rasheed Khan.
During the protest few persons also set afire the premises of one Prabhulal following which four more persons were arrested. The SC/ST police station is further probing the incident.
