In Gadalwada village of Palanpur taluka in Banaskantha district, a Dalit advocate, Mukesh Parecha, had to conduct his wedding procession under unprecedented police protection. Authorities deployed 200 police personnel to ensure the safety of the groom and his family.
Police Protection and MLA Solidarity
During the procession, Palanpur’s Gadh Police Station PI K.M. Vasava personally drove the groom’s car, with Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani seated in the back, to prevent any escalation after stone-pelting occurred. Mukesh Parecha had requested security in advance, citing past incidents in neighboring villages like Saripada and Mota, where Dalit wedding processions faced attacks despite police presence.
Thanks to the heavy deployment, no major incident occurred, though the necessity of such protection for a wedding procession reflects deep-rooted social discrimination.
Historical Context: First Dalit Wedding in the Village
Mukesh Parecha’s elder brother, Vinod Parecha, noted that no Scheduled Caste wedding procession had taken place in Gadalwada since independence. The family decided to challenge this longstanding social norm. Given past violence in nearby villages, they proactively sought security clearance from the Banaskantha SP, Gadh Police Station PI, Gandhinagar DGP, and the SC/ST Cell on January 22, 2025.
One day before the wedding, Mukesh received a phone call threatening him against taking out the procession. The family immediately reported the threats to authorities and identified the individual responsible.
Symbolic Stand Against Discrimination
On February 5, a Raas Garba event was held peacefully under police supervision. On February 6, the wedding procession moved through the village under heavy security. In a symbolic act, Mukesh Parecha rode the horse holding the Indian Constitution instead of a traditional sword, sending a message of equality and justice.
During the procession, a stone was thrown at the groom’s car about 200–300 meters ahead. PI Vasava responded immediately, deploying additional security and ensuring the procession continued safely. MLA Mevani joined the procession to show solidarity, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the event.
Reprimand and Government Response
After photos of PI Vasava driving the groom’s car went viral, senior police officials reportedly reprimanded him. Nevertheless, authorities had maintained maximum security in anticipation of potential violence.
MLA Jignesh Mevani condemned the attack, calling it shameful that a Dalit advocate needed police protection for a wedding procession decades after independence. He referenced a similar incident in Saripada village, where Puriben Parmar’s grandson, Akash Koitiya, a Military Police Officer, faced stone-pelting during his wedding.
Mevani criticized the state government for failing to combat caste-based discrimination and called for a state-wide campaign to educate people about equality and eliminate untouchability.
Similar Incidents and Legal Action
The Saripada case involved opposition from the Thakor community, which claimed only upper-caste individuals had the right to ride a horse in a wedding procession. Several guests were injured during stone-pelting. Following the incident, over 10 individuals were booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with some jailed for three months. The Thakor community even ostracized the horse owner for allowing a Dalit groom to ride.
