Dalit couple visits temples under police protection

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Bhushtla (K’shetra), May 23

Amid threats by a dominant caste, a newlywed Dalit couple today paid obeisance at village temples under police protection. Sandeep (24) and his wife Meena visited shrines with family without any reaction from the Rajput community. It is alleged some Rajput youths had made public announcements on their wedding on Saturday night from village temples to gather in large numbers to oppose the Balmiki family’s plan to take out ‘barat’ on a horse.

Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Ishwar Singh summoned the district authorities here today and directed them to initiate legal action against the culprits. He asked the SP to establish a police post at the village on temporary basis.

Sandeep and his relatives were allegedly stopped by members of the Rajput community from carrying out a marriage ritual of ‘ghurchari’ at Bhushtla village here.

As per the ritual, the groom pays obeisance at religious places riding a horse. About 20 Rajput youths from Busthala and adjoining villages allegedly threatened the Dalits from against riding a horse on Sandeep’s marriage.

Ishwar Singh said it was unfortunate that caste biases were still prevalent in society.

Meanwhile, Sandeep told The Tribune that the Rajput youths had threatened to eliminate him over the issue. Kurukshetra SP Simardeep Singh said efforts were on arrest the accused.