Dalit man rides horse in procession amidst police protection in UP

Suraj, a Dalit man, rode a horse in his wedding procession amidst police deployment in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Suraj participated in the 'ghudchadi' ceremony despite threats from upper caste people in the locality. The procession to the bride's house in the neighbouring village passed peacefully.

Mangeram, Suraj's father, approached the police earlier in the week after an upper caste Thakur family threatened to kill his son if he rode a horse. Following the complaint, Station House Officer Brijesh Kumar led a police team to the accused Thakur family. Ankit, Suraj's brother, also informed that the family had thrashed them earlier when they used the road to keep construction material as they were building their house.

The family, however, denied claims. "The family told us that they had not objected to the groom riding a horse, but had asked them to switch off the music while passing their house as they were in mourning after a family member passed away recently," the SHO said.