INDORE: At least 17 persons were booked on Monday for allegedly pelting stones at a marriage procession of a Dalit youth, who was riding a horse against the diktat of attackers, in Mahidpur tehsil of Ujjain district.

The accused had allegedly pelted stones at the marriage procession of one Sanjay Chouhan, a member of reserved Balai community, and forced him off the horse in Nag Guradia village late on Sunday night, police said.

Chouhan’s marriage was fixed with one Vishnubai of Nag Guradia village.

Jharda police station in-charge Prithvi Singh Kharate told TOI that villagers, mostly upper caste community members, objected to Chouhan riding a horse, claiming that the honour was reserved for the upper caste.

They forced him off the horse, beat up those who intervened and threw stones at the members of the procession, the inspector said.

“We have booked 17 persons in connection to the incident under the SC/ST Act and the IPC. We are trying to trace them,” he said.

