Ahmedabad: A Dalit family in Mehsana district was allegedly forced to halt a wedding procession midway after two men from the upper caste Darbar community objected to the groom riding a horse through the village.The Ladol police in Vijapur taluka have registered an FIR against Yuvrajsinh Chauhan and Nikulsinh Chauhan, residents of Madi village, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.The complaint was lodged by Bhavik Rawat, 26, who alleged that the accused stopped the wedding procession of his younger brother, Mayank Rawat, on Sunday morning and abused members of his family using casteist slurs while threatening them with dire consequences if the procession continued.According to the FIR, the Rawat family had organised a traditional wedding procession in which the groom was mounted on a horse, accompanied by relatives, villagers and music as the procession moved through the village before departing for Ahmedabad for the marriage ceremony.Police said the confrontation occurred near the village dairy around 10am on Sunday when the accused allegedly entered the gathering and objected to a Dalit groom taking out a horse-mounted procession in the village. The FIR stated that the accused claimed that only members of the Darbar community had the right to conduct such processions and allegedly hurled caste-based abuses at the family.Bhavik further alleged that the accused pushed and manhandled his brother (groom) and assaulted him when he intervened. The family also claimed that the accused threatened that they would not be allowed to leave the village alive if the procession continued.The incident triggered panic among relatives and guests, forcing the groom’s family to stop the procession midway. The wedding party later quietly left for Ahmedabad where the marriage ceremony was completed without further disturbance.Riding a horse during weddings, considered a symbol of status and equality, has repeatedly led to confrontations involving Dalit families in several villages across the state.Mehsana-based social activist Kaushik Parmar said the incident reflected the continuing resistance faced by Dalit families despite constitutional safeguards and strict legal provisions against caste discrimination.Police said further investigation into the case was underway.
