Three members of the Dalit community, including a bridegroom, were severely injured as nearly 10 upper-caste men allegedly attacked them over playing music when a baraat (wedding procession) was entering Kalinidi village on the outskirts of Meerut town on Saturday, police said.
Three persons named as accused were arrested in connection with the case while raids were being conducted to nab others, officials said. The attackers also took away two rings, a gold bracelet and Rs 2 lakh in cash from the victims, it was alleged.
According to the FIR registered at the Sardhana police station, the bridegroom Sanjeev (26) of a village in Muzaffarnagar along with a wedding procession of 100 people came to Kalindi village. Those part of the procession were in a bus and three cars.
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Govind, the complainant, said, “Music was being played when we entered Kalinidi village. But suddenly, eight to 10 men from the upper-caste community stopped our vehicles and assaulted us with lathis and sharp-edged weapons. My two younger brothers, including the bridegroom, and a sister suffered serious injuries. They chased the women and beat them up. They said only Thakurs could play music in their marriage and will not allow any kind of music by a Dalit groom or bride.”
“Three persons sustained injuries and they were admitted to a local hospital. Three arrests have been made so far while others are being traced. The alleged attackers have been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Act and for assault. We will arrest all involved in the case,” said Meerut Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rakesh Mishra.
Reacting to the alleged assault, Nagina MP and Azad Party chief Chandrashekhar in a post on X warned of launching an agitation all over the state if the culprits were not arrested soon.
“This is not a random attack on a marriage procession. The incident highlights the casteist mentality of the society which is yet not ready to accept members of the Bahujan Samaj to rejoice in their celebrations,” he wrote.Story continues below this ad
On February 21, a Dalit wedding procession was allegedly attacked by upper-caste members at Dharmawali village in Bulandshahr district over an altercation over playing of music.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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