Dalit groom attacked by upper caste Hindus for riding horse in BJP-ruled Gujarat
Ahmedabad: A Dalit groom was attacked by upper castes Hindus in BJP ruled Gujarat state, sparking widespread outrage.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the victim, identified as Vishal Chavda, was assaulted during his wedding procession in Chandrumana village, Patan district, for riding a horse, an act that upper caste Hindus consider a privilege reserved for themselves.
Members of the dominant Thakur Hindu community stopped the wedding procession and objected to the Dalit groom riding a horse. Eyewitnesses reported that the upper caste Hindu men shouted: “How dare a Dalit ride a horse in this village?” Members of the wedding party were reportedly assaulted, forcing the procession to halt.
The incident has triggered anger and concern, as similar caste-based attacks have happened in Gujarat in the past. In February 2024, a Dalit groom in Gandhinagar was pulled off his horse and beaten. In another case in 2020, stones were thrown at the wedding procession of an Indian army man, who belonged to lower caste, for riding a mare.
Dalit rights activists said such incidents show that social equality remains contested on the ground, despite strong laws. “Dominant castes continue to enforce old hierarchies through violence,” an activist said.
This latest attack highlights the deep-seated caste tensions in Modi’s India and serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing caste-based violence and discrimination faced by Dalits in the country.
