Jodhpur: Jalore Police on Sunday arrested a priest for not allowing a couple from the Dalit community to offer prayers at a temple in Jalore district. The newly married couple had gone to the temple located in Neelkanth village of Ahor subdivision of the district on Saturday.
The victim’s family members approached the police and registered a case against Pujari Vela Bharti under the SC/ST Act. A video of the incident also went viral in which the priest was shown not allowing the couple to enter the temple, leading to an argument between them.
Jalore SP Harshvardhan Agarwal said, “We have registered a case against Pujari under the SC/ST Act and arrested him on Sunday.”
According to the complaint, Kukram’s procession had reached Neelkanth village on Saturday, where the newly married couple was to offer coconut to the temple after their marriage and offer prayers at the village temple.
Complainant Tararam, cousin of the bride, said, “When we reached there, the temple priest stopped us at the gate and asked us to offer coconut outside. They did not allow us to enter the temple as we are Dalits.”
An altercation broke out between the family members and the priest over this. Some villagers also joined in supporting the priest’s point, saying it was the village’s decision and there was no point in arguing with the priest. Tararam said, “We made a lot of pleas to the priest but he remained adamant. After that we lodged a police complaint against him.”
The victim’s family members approached the police and registered a case against Pujari Vela Bharti under the SC/ST Act. A video of the incident also went viral in which the priest was shown not allowing the couple to enter the temple, leading to an argument between them.
Jalore SP Harshvardhan Agarwal said, “We have registered a case against Pujari under the SC/ST Act and arrested him on Sunday.”
According to the complaint, Kukram’s procession had reached Neelkanth village on Saturday, where the newly married couple was to offer coconut to the temple after their marriage and offer prayers at the village temple.
Complainant Tararam, cousin of the bride, said, “When we reached there, the temple priest stopped us at the gate and asked us to offer coconut outside. They did not allow us to enter the temple as we are Dalits.”
An altercation broke out between the family members and the priest over this. Some villagers also joined in supporting the priest’s point, saying it was the village’s decision and there was no point in arguing with the priest. Tararam said, “We made a lot of pleas to the priest but he remained adamant. After that we lodged a police complaint against him.”