Police Protection for Bindoli in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh Village—Why Does Fear Loom Over Dalit Weddings in India?

Chittorgarh- On April 15, a Dalit wedding procession, known as a bindoli, was conducted under tight police protection in Naugaun village, located in the Mangalwad police station area of Dungla sub-division, Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan.

The procession, part of Rahul Meghwal’s wedding celebrations, proceeded peacefully with the presence of senior police officials, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) from Badi Sadri, and officers from Mangalwad, Nikumbh, and Dungla police stations.

Social activists, including Shankar Lal Meghwal, Prahlad Jatiya of Bhim Army, and others, joined the event, ensuring community support. This incident, while peaceful, underscores a troubling reality: Dalit wedding processions in Rajasthan and other north Indian states often require heavy security due to fears of caste-based opposition, reflecting deep-rooted social tensions.

Shankar Bildi, a community member told The Mooknayak, the bindoli for a child’s mundan ceremony on May 22, 2024, had previously faced resistance from influential members of the so-called general castes in Naugaun. The procession was only possible with police intervention, highlighting a recurring pattern of apprehension among Dalit families.

Fearing similar disruptions for Rahul Meghwal’s wedding, the family preemptively informed the Mangalwad police, prompting the administration to deploy a robust security arrangement. The peaceful execution of the bindoli was a testament to proactive measures but also a stark reminder of the persistent fear that overshadows Dalit celebrations in rural Rajasthan.

The fear surrounding Dalit weddings stems from entrenched caste hierarchies and resistance from dominant caste groups, such as Rajputs, Jats, and Gurjars, to Dalit assertions of dignity. The tradition of a groom riding a horse or conducting a grand procession is often seen as a challenge to upper-caste dominance, leading to violent backlash.

A 2014 report by The Hindu noted that while the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, aims to protect Dalit dignity, convictions remain rare, emboldening perpetrators.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2020 shows Rajasthan reporting 8,028 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes, the highest in India, out of 47,064 nationwide. This statistic underscores the systemic nature of caste-based discrimination in the state. Social activists assert that even basic rights, like conducting a wedding procession, are contested in Rajasthan.

The issue is not unique to Chittorgarh but reflects a statewide challenge. In January 2025, A Dalit groom, Vijay Regar, rode a mare during his bindoli in Lavera village in Ajmer under the protection of 200 police personnel, as reported by NDTV. The bride’s family had sought administrative support, anticipating opposition from upper-caste locals. The Gurjar community’s cooperation marked a positive step, but the heavy police presence underscored ongoing tensions.

News18 reported that in November 2024, Ashish, a Dalit groom from Alwar, rode a mare for the first time in his village’s history , protected by police who outnumbered the wedding guests. The family’s request for security was driven by past disruptions, including an incident years earlier when Ashish’s sister’s wedding faced threats.

In February 2022, Dalit IPS officer Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta’s bindoli procession in Jaisinghpura village in Jaipur, required police protection due to fears of upper-caste opposition. The officer’s family cited a 2001 attack on his aunt’s groom as a precedent, illustrating the persistence of caste-based hostility.

Recent Incidents of Opposition to Dalit Weddings in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

In a village near Mhow in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, a Dalit groom performed worship at a Lord Ram temple under police protection on Monday.

According to eyewitnesses and a video that went viral on social media, the groom, accompanied by his wedding procession and family members, reached the temple in Sanghvi village, approximately 25 kilometers from Mhow, and offered prayers to Lord Ram. Police were present at the scene during the event.

The controversy arose when some members of the wedding party demanded entry into the temple’s sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha), where traditionally only priests are allowed. Police officials clarified that the groom was not prevented from entering the temple; rather, the dispute centered around access to the sanctum sanctorum.

In February 2025, in UP's Bulandshahr, a violent attack on a Dalit wedding procession in Dhamrwali village, took place, where Thakur men assaulted the baraatis and forced the groom, Arun Bharti, off his horse. The attackers, led by the village head’s husband, Kripal Singh, used sticks and sharp objects, injuring six people, including two women. The FIR cited casteist slurs and threats, noting a similar incident days earlier during another Dalit wedding in the same village. The case was registered against 29 identified and 8-10 unidentified persons under the SC/ST Act. MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad described the attack as “planned terror against Dalits.”

Similarly, in February 2025, in a distressing incident, the wedding of two Dalit sisters in Mathura was disrupted and called off after Yadav community members assaulted the baraatis following a minor accident involving a bike and the brides’ car. The attackers used casteist slurs and physically assaulted family members, including women. The incident prompted outrage, with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav calling for unity among backward castes and Dalits to counter such atrocities. Legal action was initiated, but the cancellation of the wedding highlighted the severe social repercussions faced by Dalit families.

In July 2024, in Madakarimupr village, Muzaffarnagar, a Dalit groom and his guests were attacked during a wedding procession after upper-caste men objected to the groom mounting a horse. According to a report by Citizens for Justice and Peace, the altercation escalated over alleged “casteist” songs played during the ceremony, though the groom’s side claimed provocation by the upper-caste group. An FIR was filed against 15-20 men under the SC/ST Act, and police intervention was required to quell the violence.

In January 2022, in Ganiyari village, Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh, the house of Dilip Ahirwar, a Dalit groom, was attacked by members of the Lodhi Thakur community after his wedding procession, which included the groom riding a horse, passed through their village. The Indian Express reported that stones were pelted, and family members, including women, were assaulted. Despite prior police protection and support from the Bhim Army, the attack occurred hours after the procession, injuring a family member. The incident highlighted the retaliatory violence faced by Dalits for defying caste norms.

The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, provides a framework for addressing caste-based violence, but its implementation remains inconsistent. In many cases, FIRs are filed, but convictions are low—only 27,754 convictions out of 1,89,945 cases registered nationwide from 2018 to 2021, per NCRB data. Police often face challenges in gathering evidence, as perpetrators deny allegations or intimidate victims. Administrative measures, such as providing police protection, are reactive rather than preventive, leaving Dalit families vulnerable to retaliation.