Agra: Caste divisions reared its head last week at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district as fighting and stone pelting took place after upper caste residents objected to a Dalit wedding procession.
Though marriage rituals were completed under the supervision of the police administration after the episode Saturday evening, the situation remains tense at Dhakapura village. No case has been filed, so far.
A constable was injured while a Dalit youth suffered serious injuries, Station House Officer (SHO) of Awagarh police station, Akhilesh Kumar Dixit, said, adding the injured policeman was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
The marriage of Premkishore’s daughter Aarti, a resident of Dhakapura, was fixed with Vikas of Sahapau area in Hathras district, according to the locals. The wedding procession reached the village in the evening.
When the procession began passing through the village late at night, upper caste residents allegedly refused to allow it to pass through, saying a Dalit’s wedding procession could not be allowed.
As tempers rose, the SHO reached the spot with the force and tried to convince both parties but to no avail. The Dalit community alleges that the Thakurs attacked the women in the presence of the police.
Amidst the stone pelting and fighting, the women alleged that they were dragged out of homes and beaten and caste-specific abuses were hurled at them. They further accused the police of remaining mute spectators and of not making an effort to stop the violence. However, police have denied the allegations.
The bride’s cousin claimed the preparations for welcoming the wedding procession were going on when the attack took place. She somehow managed to run to safety.
“There was a minor altercation and light stone pelting between the two parties, but later the marriage was completed peacefully and after reconciliation between the two parties in the morning, the wedding procession was sent off to Hathras,” the SHO said.
Anger is simmering among the Dalits but villagers say no one is coming forward openly. Villagers say that due to the police not taking proper action, the men are silent and an atmosphere of fear prevails.
“This incident has once again uncovered the reality of caste inequality in rural areas, which needs to be addressed through education and dialogue, not force,” social activist and Hindustani Biradari vice-chairman Vishal Sharma said.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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