Case filed against priest for not allowing Dalit couple to marry

Priest did not allow Dalit couple to enter temple

Pauri. A temple priest in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district has been accused of denying entry to a Dalit couple for marriage.

In the case, an FIR has been filed against the priest under the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.

Action taken after complaint

The complaint of this incident, which took place in Maniyarsyun area, was lodged on March 12.

The bride’s father Nakul Das complained to the revenue police and alleged that on March 5, when his daughter Ankita and son-in-law Ajay reached the temple for marriage, priest Nagendra Selwal refused to allow them to enter the temple.

Allegations of casteist remarks and closing the door

Sub-inspector Rakesh Bisht said that priest Nagendra Selwal allegedly used casteist abuses and closed the door of the temple, due to which the couple could not get married on time. Local people had to intervene.

Village resident Nitin Kainthola said the yagnashala, where marriages are solemnised, is usually never closed during the day. “When the baraat arrived, the temple gates were shut, which was unusual. The priests did not want the couple to go inside. This situation had never come up before, and the family wanted to get married there as they were financially weak,” he said.

Matter handed over to police

A complaint was also given to sub-divisional magistrate Rekha Arya, who directed the revenue police to investigate the matter. He said that on March 16, the matter was handed over to the regular police considering its seriousness.

Investigation underway

Pauri Sadar Circle Officer Trivendra Singh Rana, who is investigating the case, said internal differences in the temple management could also be the reason for the dispute. The police are investigating whether caste discrimination played a role in it.

The incident has created a lot of buzz in the area, and a detailed investigation into the matter by the police is underway.

Courtesy : Hindi News