Uttar Pradesh: Bandbaja and procession were forbidden in the marriage of Dalit families in the village, the wedding took place with pomp under the protection of the police
In UP’s Sambhal, even today the oppression of Dalits is at its peak. In Junwai area of Sambhal, the upper caste people had banned the bandbaja in marriage programs and processions of Dalit families. This order was going on for the last 30 years. Regarding this, a person from a Dalit family had demanded police protection during the program from the Superintendent of Police. After which a daughter of a Dalit family got married on 25 November 2022 in the presence of the police. The SP had deployed 60 policemen. The policemen remained alert from the time the wedding procession was taken out till the bride’s farewell. During this, the station in-charge also contributed Rs 11,000 in the marriage.
Learn about the case in detail?
Lohamai village comes in Junavai area of Sambhal in UP. Raju Valmiki lives in this village. Raju belongs to scheduled caste. Raju works at a saree shop in Mumbai. Raju lives with his wife Urmila, two daughters Raveena and Preeti and a son. Raju had fixed the marriage of his daughter Raveena. A year ago, Raju’s elder brother was afraid of the ruckus in the marriage of Mahendra’s daughter Babita. He was afraid that there would be a ruckus in his daughter’s marriage as well. Raju The MooknayakTold in a conversation with that we are not allowed to take out a procession with respect to the band. “I was determined to send my daughter off with a bandwagon. Due to this, by giving a complaint letter to the SP, demanded police protection. SP Chakresh Mishra had assured that my daughter would be married with pomp. The police force will be deployed throughout the procession. Today my daughter got married with much fanfare in the presence of 60 policemen.
Heavy police force deployed along with jurisdictional
The procession of Raveena, daughter of Dalit Raju, reached the village from Badaun district on Friday evening. During this, the police force was deployed at every nook and corner in the village. The atmosphere seemed as if a VIP was getting married. Under the police protection, the program of procession took place with bandbaje. The procession reached the bride’s house dancing and singing on the bandbaja with the groom sitting on the horse cart. 60 policemen including CO Gunnaur Alok Sidhu and station in-charge Junavai Pushkar Singh Mehra were also involved in the procession. On the occasion of the marriage of Raju’s elder daughter Raveena, station in-charge Pushkar Singh Mehra donated Rs 11,000 for the marriage of a Dalit daughter.
Raveena’s mother said, Bandbaja is not allowed to be played at the wedding
Urmila Valmiki, the mother of the bride Raveena told that “In my village, the bandbaja was not allowed to be played in the marriage of Dalits. The bullies have imposed a ban on Dalit grooms sitting on the mare. Had appealed to the SP regarding the daughter’s marriage, on which the police had assured to get the daughter’s marriage done peacefully.
There was a fight in the marriage of brother-in-law’s daughter
Urmila says, “Last year my brother-in-law Mahendra’s daughter Urmila got married. The people of the village created ruckus in that marriage. Although the number of people was less during Kovid, but the people of the village protested and fought over the procession and singing. In this case some people were arrested by the police and sent to jail.
Police station in-charge Junwai Pushkar Singh Mehra said that the security of every citizen is the duty of the police. The police remained with the procession and for security in the marriage. The wedding procession of the young woman started with pomp and show. The bride and groom went round. The entire marriage ended peacefully.
