In a tragic incident reported from Rajasthan’s Bikaner, a Dalit girl who was married under police protection after the groom was forced off his horse by the upper caste people, was a minor, said, officials.
As per the reports, the wedding took place under the protection of the police at Belasar village in Bikaner district on Thursday night after the upper caste people objected the groom as he was riding a horse during the marriage procession.
When the district administration and police checked the birth records of the bride’s elder brothers whose marriage was scheduled to take place on Friday, the minor status of the bride came to the light.
Bikaner sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Kailash Chandra Sharma said, “Villagers complained that the girl’s father Poonam Chand Meghwal had fixed the marriage of his two minor sons. While investigating the complaint, the station house officer of Napasar police station reported that both the sons, Vikas and Kailash, were minors. The district administration has warned the family against getting them married till they become majors.”
As per Bhamashah scheme records, the girl who was married under police protection is the youngest child of Poonam Chand. A national daily stated that they also have the cop of the records that proves this.
After the upper caste people pelted stones at the Dalit groom’s wedding procession, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob. After which the police was deployed in the village to make sure that the marriage processions happen without any disruption.
Also, Bikaner superintendent of police confirmed that the girl was a minor. He said that SDM has conducted the inquiry.
From Monday the upper caste people will be launching an agitation.
District president of Sri Rajput Karni Sena (Rural) Jugal Singh Belasar said, “We are going to file an FIR against police personnel for giving protection to the marriage of a minor. The villagers had informed the police and administrative officers that the bride was a minor, but they ignored it.”
Ever since the incident has taken place, police have been deployed in Belasar village.
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