Kasganj cops refuse to permit wedding procession of Dalit groom in village

AGRA: A request for permission for the wedding procession of a Dalit groom in a village was denied by Kasganj police, which said it could trigger caste violence in the area.
Sanjay Kumar Jaatav, a block-level panchayat member from Basai Bawas II of Hsaayan block, Sikandararao police jurisdiction, Hathras district is set to marry a girl of Nizampur village in Kasganj district on April 20. Nizampur has only 40 Dalit residents and over 300 from the upper castes.
After their engagement earlier in February, Sheetal Kumari, the fiancé informed Jaatav that no Dalit wedding procession is allowed in the village by upper castes. When Sanjay applied for police permission, it was denied, with police saying it could lead to violence. Sanjay is now preparing to fight the case in Allahabad High Court.
Speaking to TOI, Jaatav, 28 said, “I am surprised and find it unacceptable that no Dalit family ever took out a wedding procession in Nizampur village. After I lodged a compliant at CM’s online grievance redressal portal, Kasganj police appointed a sub inspector to investigate the matter. In his finding, the SI recommended that permission not be given for the procession, as it could trigger violence. The district magistrate and superintendent of police accepted the recommendation.”
The copy of police investigation report, available with TOI read, “There has never been a Dalit wedding procession in the village. If the complainant tries to change this old tradition, it may threaten the peace and tranquillity and lead to violence.”
Jaatav said, “My in-laws informed me that, a decade ago, a Dalit family was assaulted and humiliated by upper caste men during a wedding ceremony in Nizampur, when the family attempted to take out a procession. I’m afraid my struggle for our rights just for wedding procession, would have great repercussions and upper caste men might attack my in-laws later on.”
Kasganj SP Piyush Srivastav said, “Jaatav is trying to make unnecessary fuss, as elections are due next year. No one has stopped him from taking out a wedding procession. What we don’t understand is why he can’t take the procession to his in-laws’ house instead of the entire village.”
BJP MLA of Kasganj Devendar Singh Rajput said, “The village has a history of violence and there were clashes in the district on Republic Day. The local police do not even allow us to play loud music after 10 pm. How can they violate the rules for Jaatav, whose wedding procession will continue till late at night, with loud music? If he invites me, I will be happy to attend, but I can’t help him create an unnecessary situation in the district.”