Thakurs beat up baraat of dalits in UP

Caste tensions prevail in two villages in Saharanpur and Mathura districts after the Thakur community prevented dalits from taking out the marriage processions on Sunday. In the first incident in Dariapur village in Saharanpur, the Thakurs stopped a wedding procession of dalits by parking tractors on the main road. The Thakur community was angry because the word Rajput on signage of the village “Dariapur Rajput” had been blackened a few days ago. This had led to tension between the two communities. The groom and the procession were made to stand in the sun for more than three hours with both the sides adamant on their stand. The police was called and forces form several police stations were kept on the standby. After hours of persuasion by the police officials, the Thakurs agreed to let the baraat pass but without any band or music.

Gulab Singh, whose daughter’s marriage was on Sunday, said that he had been insulted by the Thakurs and would never forget the humiliation that he and his family faced. Additional forces have been deployed in the village to prevent fallout of the incident. In the second incident in Mathura, in village Mahrauli, the Thakurs beat up the ‘Dalits who insisted on taking their wedding procession through a particular route. According to reports, the Thakurs, brandishing firearms, beat up the members of the ‘baraat’ and abused them because they were dancing in front of the houses of the Thakurs in the village. The Dalits alleged that the Thakurs looted their money and jewellery too. Over a dozen persons were injured in the incident. The police have registered a case against two dozen persons and the injured have been admitted to the hospital. Tension prevails in the area. No arrests have yet been made in both the cases.