NHRC notice to the Government of Madhya Pradesh on reported attack on a Dalit groom riding a horse in District Rajgarh

New Delhi, 20th May, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken a suo motu cognizance of a media report that a group of people attacked a wedding procession of a Scheduled Caste family in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh on 15th may, 2022. Reportedly, they were opposed to the groom riding a horse and use of DJ in the wedding procession and the brother of the bride had already requested security from the police in view of the threats.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to violation of human rights of victims. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks including action taken against the miscreants and compensation granted to the aggrieved family.

The Commission has also observed that in a civilized society, such inhuman incidents are required to be strictly condemned and the perpetrators are liable to be adequately reprimanded and brought to law. There are special legal provisions for the protection of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other vulnerable sections of the society from such harassment and humiliation but in spite of that such incidents occur frequently in different parts of the country amounting to violation of human rights.

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