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AHMEDABAD: The wedding procession of a Dalit man was allegedly attacked by Thakors of the OBC community, who ‘objected’ to the groom riding a horse, in Aravalli district.

According to the groom's father Mahendra Vankar, in his police complaint, Prashant was to be married on April 20 and a wedding procession was taken out the previous day from their home to their deity's temple. They had panchayat member Udesinh Balusinh Makwana's permission, he stated.

“Some relatives were walking ahead of Prashant's horse while the rest of the procession was moving towards the temple. Members of the Thakor community in the village suddenly rushed in front of the horse and uttered caste-based slurs,” Vankar stated in the FIR, which was filed on April 24.

“They shouted at us that Dalits can’t hold wedding processions in the village. The accused persons thrashed four members of the Dalit community and threatened to kill us if we ever held a wedding procession in the village,” the FIR stated. Makwana intervened and rescued other members of the Dalit community who were being thrashed, the FIR added.

Investigating office and deputy superintendent of police (Arvalli) N M Kanjharia said an FIR has been lodged against seven members of the Thakor community, all between the age of 20 and 25 years, under the Atrocities Act and for assault and criminal intimidation.

“We also met leaders of both communities and told members of the Thakor community that Dalits have the right to take out a procession, and use a horse. However, the accused — who have applied for anticipatory bail — were adamant and insisted that Dalits can’t take out a wedding procession in their village or use a horse,” Kanjharia said.

