In Mehsana, Gujarat, a Dalit groom’s wedding procession was forcibly stopped and he was assaulted by members of an upper-caste Darbar community after they objected to him riding a horse, a traditional wedding custom. The attackers reportedly used casteist slurs, claiming horse-mounted processions were exclusive to their caste, and threatened the family, causing panic and halting the baraat before it could reach Ahmedabad. Police have registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, highlighting ongoing caste-based discrimination despite constitutional protections.

This incident is part of a disturbing pattern across India where Dalit grooms face violent opposition when asserting social dignity through customary practices like horse riding during weddings. Similar attacks have occurred recently in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, underscoring persistent caste exclusion in cultural spaces. Activists emphasize that these repeated confrontations reveal the entrenched nature of caste-based discrimination, even as laws exist to abolish untouchability and ensure equality.