Rajasthan: Newly married Dalit couple not allowed to enter temple, priest arrested

Rajasthan Police on Sunday arrested a priest for not allowing a newly married Dalit youth to perform puja at a temple in Jalore. This information was provided by officers.

A video of the incident which took place on April 23 also went viral, in which priests are seen purportedly stopping the couple at the entrance of the temple in Neelkanth village under Ahor subdivision of Vela Bharti district. The debate between them was also recorded in the video.

The victim’s family members then approached the police and registered a case against Pujari under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Jalore Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwal said on Sunday, “We have arrested Pujari by registering a case under the SC/ST Act.”

According to the complaint, Kuka Ram’s procession had reached Neelkanth village on Saturday (April 23) and the newly married couple wanted to offer coconut in the temple after marriage.

According to the complaint of the bride’s relative Tara Ram, “When we reached there, the priest stopped us at the entrance and asked us to offer coconut outside.” They asked us not to enter the temple, as we belong to the Dalit community.

It said that some villagers also joined the debate and supported the priest saying that it is the decision of the village and there is no point in arguing with the priest.

Tara Ram said, ‘We made a lot of pleas to the priest, but he remained adamant. After that we lodged a complaint with the police against the priest.