A Dalit man’s wedding procession (baraat) was allegedly attacked by around 40 upper-caste men in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday night. The attackers reportedly pulled the groom off his horse and beat the wedding guests for playing DJ music while passing through their locality, police said on Friday.
According to the groom’s family, six guests, including women, suffered head injuries. The attackers also threatened them and forced the baraat to turn back.
“They abused us with casteist slurs and attacked us with sticks, iron rods, and sharp objects. They pulled the groom off the horse and told us never to come back to their neighborhood,” Surendra Singh, a guest from Dhamravali village told the Times of India.
The police have registered an FIR against 30 identified and some unknown persons under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of rioting, causing hurt, and preventing free movement, along with sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“It was a fight over playing loud music during the baraat. Five people have been arrested, and an investigation is ongoing to find the others involved,” said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rijul Kumar.
This is not the first such incident in the area. On December 16, 2024, a Dalit constable’s baraat in Bulandshahr’s Jahangirabad was also attacked by upper-caste men for playing DJ music. In that case, the attackers vandalized vehicles, pelted stones, and forced the groom off the horse.
The families affected by these attacks say they are living in fear and want strong action against the accused.
