The victim, Golu Ahirwar, was participating in his customary pre-wedding ritual, known as Rachwai, and was passing through the village seated on a horse when local strongmen allegedly intercepted the procession. According to accounts provided by the victim and his family, individuals identified as Guddu Singh, Krishna, Hakam, and Paltu Lodhi took violent objection to the groom’s presence on the animal. The subsequent attack, captured in a viral video recorded by members of the wedding party, shows the assailants using sticks and clubs to beat the groom in broad daylight.
The groom's sister, Manisha Ahirwar, described the calculated nature of the assault, stating that the attackers deliberately blocked their path by parking a vehicle across the lane. When the family requested the vehicle be moved, the men rushed at them, declaring that a horse could not enter the lane and that they would not permit the procession to pass. The family alleges that the attackers made it explicitly clear that such a celebration was "not meant for people like us," underscoring a deep-seated caste prejudice.
The brutality of the incident was further compounded by the fact that Golu Ahirwar is physically challenged. His mother, Vidya Ahirwar, recounted that the attackers showed no restraint, mercilessly dragging her son from the horse and assaulting both him and his sister when she attempted to intervene. During the ensuing chaos, the family also reported that pieces of the daughter's gold jewelry went missing.
Seeking immediate legal recourse, the family and members of the wedding party marched to the Hatta police station. Station In-charge Sudhir Kumar Begi confirmed the filing of the complaint, noting that Vishwanath Lodhi, Chintu Lodhi, and others specifically objected to the groom riding a horse near the village shrine. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law, including the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and an investigation is currently underway.
To prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of the wedding party, a police force was deployed to the village. Following a medical examination, Golu Ahirwar and his family proceeded to Budhi Semra village in the Chhatarpur district to complete the remaining wedding rituals. This incident is not an isolated occurrence in the region; locals indicate that similar disputes have arisen previously when dominant caste members objected to Dalit rituals, necessitating external social intervention. This latest attack serves as a grim reminder of the systemic barriers still facing marginalized communities in their pursuit of basic social dignity.
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