Dalits, Darbars clash in Mansa Taluka in Gandhinagar
As per the police, a second mare was called after the first one fled during the altercation. The groom rode the second mare and reached his bride’s house
Police had to rush to a wedding in Parsa village in Mansa Taluka in Gandhinagar after an altercation between Dalits and Darbars.
While Dalits allege that the altercation took place over a Dalit groom riding a mare, cops said it was over bursting of firecrackers in front of the house of Darbars.
The incident happened on Sunday afternoon when Pramod Solanki, who belongs to a village in Mehsana, came on a varghodo (a procession in which the groom comes on a mare, accompanied by drums and music) to the house of his intended bride — Varsha Parmar.
“Some members of the Darbar community forced the groom to get down from the mare,” alleged Pratik Parmar, a Dalit rights activist who visited the family.
“The groom was allowed to proceed to the house of the bride only after the sarpanch intervened and insisted that the groom ride a mare,” said Parmar. As the altercation continued, the Dalits also called the police who rushed to the site to stop any untoward incident.
Vijay Patel, additional SP Gandhinagar, however, said the altercation occurred after some members of the Darbar community asked the groom’s party not to burst crackers outside their homes. “The revellers, however, continued to do so and an argument ensued. Someone also called the police and they rushed to the spot to calm tempers. The owner of the mare and the musicians, fearing violence, fled the place. Another mare was called for and the groom reached the house of his bride riding the second mare,” Patel said. He said the altercation was not over a Dalit riding a horse but over bursting of crackers.
STILL A HAPPY ENDING
As per the police, a second mare was called after the first one fled during the altercation. The groom rode the second mare and reached his bride’s house. All ceremonies were completed