A groom in Madhya Pradesh exchanged his orange safa or Turban with a sturdy helmet as upper caste men in his village attacked him with stones – all because he dares to ride a horse to his wedding.
According to sources Pawan the groom belongs to the Dalit caste and was told by upper caste villagers that members of his caste are not allowed to sit on a horse or take out grand processions, but Pawan dares to take a grand wedding by riding on horse.
Pawan Malviya’s wedding procession slowly made its way, suddenly a group of Upper caste people started hurling stones on the groom’s family. Almost half a dozen members of Pawan’s family were injured.
Fearing which the Groom’s family asked a police protection As part of what district officials described as a compromise between the two sides, the upper caste families agreed to keep their doors shut so they would not have to watch a Dalit groom on a horse. Despite this, Pawan’s procession was attacked with stones when it reached the village square.
“They are not letting us go. They keep threatening us and trying to drive us away. We will carry on with help from the police,” Pawan, still wearing the safaa, told reporters.
“It is a dispute between two groups in the Nirun village. The procession was finally allowed to move peacefully and without incident. We have registered a case against around 70 people,” said a senior police officer.