‘How dare a Dalit ride a horse in this village,’ members of the upper caste community shouted, attacking the wedding party, forcing the procession to halt
AHMEDABAD – A Dalit groom, Vishal Chavda, was allegedly attacked during his wedding procession for riding a horse, a tradition considered a privilege of the upper castes. The attack in Chandrumana village of Gujarat’s Patan district on Monday highlights the deep-seated caste tensions in rural India. It is also a stark reminder of the ongoing caste-based violence and discrimination faced by Dalits in the country.
Reports said members of the dominant Thakur community stopped the wedding procession and objected to the Dalit groom riding a horse.
Family members of Vishal Chavda alleged that members of the upper caste community hurled casteist abuses and threatened the wedding party, with some of them allegedly carrying sharp-edged weapons, including swords. What should have been a joyful moment quickly turned into chaos as fear spread among the guests, media reports said on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses recall that the upper caste men shouted: “How dare a Dalit ride a horse in this village.” Members of the wedding party were reportedly assaulted, forcing the procession to halt.
The groom’s father later filed a complaint with the Patan police ensuing in a case being registered against eight individuals, including one minor. The accused have been booked under sections related to rioting, unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Deputy Superintendent of Police PJ Renuka said an investigation is underway. “Three of the accused were found at the spot and have been detained. Further inquiry is ongoing,” he was quoted as saying by The Observer Post.
Renuka added that there was a prior dispute between the two sides. “During the investigation, we found that there was a death in the accused’s community and they had asked for the DJ to be stopped. The situation escalated after that. There is also a long-standing land dispute between the complainant and the accused,” he said.
However, the incident has triggered anger and concern as similar attacks have been reported in Gujarat in the past. In February 2024, a Dalit groom in Gandhinagar was pulled off his horse and assaulted. In another case in 2020, stones were thrown at the wedding procession of an army jawan for riding a mare.
Dalit rights activists say such incidents show that social equality remains contested on the ground, despite strong laws. “The horse has become a symbol of dignity for Dalits, and dominant castes still try to enforce old hierarchies through violence,” an activist said.
