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‘Felt insulted’: Dalit bride forced to get off horse in Rajasthan, protest escalates a week later
A Dalit bride, Pooja Meghwal, was forced to dismount a mare during her wedding procession in Hariau village, Udaipur district, on April 29, 2026. The incident sparked protests by BSP and Dalit groups, with Meghwal rejoining the procession on May 7, 2026 at the district collectorate and submitting a memorandum to the governor demanding a fair probe. Police filed an FIR, four people were arrested, and calls for an independent investigation and action against those deemed casteist were raised.
Why It Matters
The episode highlights caste-based insults during community celebrations and prompted protests demanding accountability and a fair investigation, reflecting ongoing social and political tensions over Dalit rights in Rajasthan.
Timeline
2 Events
May 7, 2026: Protest to district collectorate in Udaipur; Meghwal joins procession riding mare again
May 7, 2026
Protests organized by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Dalit community marched to the district collectorate in Udaipur. Pooja Meghwal joined the procession at the collectorate, riding the mare again. Protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the governor demanding a fair probe. The protesters alleged about a dozen people, including women, were involved in the incident, and four people had been arrested so far. Villages questioned the fairness of the investigation and demanded that the probe be handed to another officer. Rajasthan Police said an FIR had been filed at Dabok Police Station and investigations were ongoing. Jitendra Hatwal, Bhim Army state president, called for action against those making token efforts to shield casteists, and Bhim Army planned a protest in Jaipur if demands were not met.
April 29, 2026: Dalit bride dismounted from mare during wedding in Hariau
April 29, 2026
During the wedding procession in Hariau village under Dabok Police Station limits, Pooja Meghwal, a Dalit bride, was forced to dismount a mare. She said she felt insulted and that her family members were assaulted. The family claimed that local strongmen opposed to the celebration contributed to the incident, which led to a protest.