A wedding celebration in a village of Gujarat’s Patan district turned violent after a Dalit groom was allegedly attacked for riding a horse during his marriage procession, once again exposing deep caste tensions in rural India.
The incident took place on Monday in Chandrumana village, when Vishal Chavda, a young man from the Dalit community, set out on his wedding procession, locally known as varghodo. According to the police and eyewitnesses, the procession was stopped midway by members of the dominant Thakor community, who objected to the groom riding a horse.
Family members alleged that the accused hurled casteist abuses and threatened the wedding party. Some of them were allegedly carrying sharp edged weapons, including swords. What should have been a joyful moment quickly turned into chaos as fear spread among the guests.
“How dare a Dalit ride a horse in this village,” the attackers allegedly shouted, according to people present at the spot. Members of the wedding party were reportedly assaulted, forcing the procession to halt.
The groom’s father later approached the police and filed a complaint. Based on his statement, the Patan police registered an FIR against eight people, including one minor. The accused have been booked under sections related to rioting, unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Deputy Superintendent of Police P J Renuka said an investigation is underway. “Three of the accused were found at the spot and have been detained. Further inquiry is ongoing,” he said.
Renuka added that there was a prior dispute between the two sides. “During the investigation, we found that there was a death in the accused’s community and they had asked for the DJ to be stopped. The situation escalated after that. There is also a long standing land dispute between the complainant and the accused,” he said.
However, the incident has triggered anger and concern as similar attacks have been reported in Gujarat in the past. In February 2024, a Dalit groom in Gandhinagar was pulled off his horse and assaulted. In another case in 2020, stones were thrown at the wedding procession of an Army jawan for riding a mare.
Dalit rights activists say such incidents show that social equality remains contested on the ground, despite strong laws. “The horse has become a symbol of dignity for Dalits, and dominant castes still try to enforce old hierarchies through violence,” an activist said.
