The complaint was made in response to purported limitations that a group of upper caste men from their community had placed on them for giving the newlyweds a Royal Enfield motorbike.
Sambhal: After requesting assistance from the police for the wedding of their 20-year-old daughter, a Dalit family was offered security.
The complaint was made in response to purported limitations that a group of upper caste men from their community had placed on them for giving the newlyweds a Royal Enfield motorbike.
In order for the wedding to go well, the bride’s parents, Rishipal Valmiki and Sheela Devi, stated that the village chief had instructed them “not to give away presents like upper caste people do.”
Additionally, “violent reprisals like stone pelting during the wedding procession” were advised against.
Sheela Devi, the mother of the bride, stated, “We are the sole Dalit family in the area, and others in the neighbourhood have strongly warned us that they would not let my daughter get married since we are initiating a new custom in our community by offering a bike as a gift. They initially did not protest, but on Monday they caused a commotion and misbehaved around visitors after discovering the new motorcycle and other gifts at our house.
We had to ask the police and a previous minister for assistance, she said. Now that we are under police protection, we anticipate a calm wedding celebration.
Chakresh Mishra, the Sambhal Police Superintendent, said that a police team had been sent to Ghughaiya to interview people who had threatened the family. They said that as of right now, they had no objections to the wedding ceremony. However, a staff has been stationed there indefinitely to ensure the family and guests’ security.
