Dalits exiting the temple after offering prayers on Saturday

PALANPUR: Nearly 400 dalits entered the Gaushala temple at Sherpura village in Deesa taluka of Banaskantha under heavy police protection on Friday, even as three persons from a different community were booked for allegedly assaulting a Dalit youth and preventing him from entering the same temple 10 days ago. On Saturday, the village remained tense as both communities could not come to a compromise.

Police booked Ramesh Jat (30), Jagdish Jat (25) and Kishore Jat (35) for assaulting Mahesh Parmar (19) of Sherpura village and preventing him from offering prayers at the Gaushala temple. The accused had allegedly hurled caste-based abuses against Parmar. The incident that took place on January 8 had resulted in tension among dalits and upper caste members of the village.

According to Joitabhai Parmar of Sherpura village, they had held a meeting with the upper caste members but it didn’t result in any breakthrough. He said that dalits of the village usually offer prayers at their houses to avoid conflict with upper caste members.

Police sub-inspector of Aagrthla police station L G Nakumb said, “We have booked three persons under the Atrocity Act. No one has been arrested yet as investigation is still in progress.”

