In a deeply disturbing incident that highlights continuing caste-based discrimination in parts of rural India, a Dalit family in Rasra, a town in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, was violently attacked during a wedding celebration simply for organizing the event in a public marriage hall.
The attack, which occurred late Friday night, left at least two individuals seriously injured and has sparked strong condemnation from Dalit rights groups and residents.
According to the police, the incident took place around 10:30 PM on Friday at the Swayamvar Marriage Hall, where a Dalit family had gathered with relatives and guests to celebrate the wedding of a family member.
As the festivities were underway, a mob of approximately 20 men, armed with sticks, rods, and other blunt weapons, forcefully entered the venue and launched an unprovoked attack on the hosts and guests.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed by Raghvendra Gautam, the brother of one of the victims, describes the attackers as hurling caste-based slurs and expressing their outrage that members of a Dalit community had dared to rent and use a marriage hall for such an event.
According to Gautam’s statement, the attackers reportedly shouted: “Being from a Dalit community, how can you hold a wedding in a hall?” — an explicit indication of caste prejudice being the motive behind the assault.
The complaint further names four primary accused: Aman Sahni, Deepak Sahni, Rahul, and Akhilesh, who are believed to have orchestrated the assault.
These men were allegedly accompanied by 15 to 20 others, whose identities have not yet been confirmed but are said to be residents of the Mallah Toli locality.
During the brutal attack, several members of the wedding party sustained injuries, with Ajay Kumar and Manan Kant, both relatives of the groom, suffering serious wounds that required immediate medical attention.
They are currently receiving treatment, though their condition remains critical, according to family members.
Following the incident, the police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with specific provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a legislation aimed at protecting marginalized communities from discrimination, harassment, and violence.
Vipin Singh, the officer in charge of the Rasra Police Station, confirmed the registration of the FIR and said that an investigation into the incident is actively underway.
However, as of Sunday evening, no arrests have been made, and the police are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects based on eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage from the area.
The attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of Dalit families exercising their constitutional rights to equality and dignity, especially in rural areas where caste-based prejudices continue to influence social behavior and local power dynamics.
Social activists and political leaders have called on the authorities to take swift action and ensure that justice is served without delay.
Local community leaders and civil rights organizations have urged the government to take stronger steps to prevent such incidents in the future, stressing the need for increased awareness, strict enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, and improved protection for vulnerable communities in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
