The horse who was caught in the stone-pelting at a Dalit wedding procession in Gujarat's Khambisar village has succumbed to his injuries, reported The Indian Express.
After his death, the police have slapped Section 429 of the IPC (mischief by killing cattle) to the FIR against the 43 upper-caste people accused of violence.
A mob of around 150 people, including 16 women, from the Patidar community was booked for allegedly stopping the procession of a Dalit man in Khambisar village in Modasa taluka of Gujarat's Arvalli district on 12 May.
This was the first time a Dalit groom, Jayesh Rathod, was riding a horse in the village.
The groom's father, Dayabhai Rathod, filed a complaint on 17 May, following which a case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint named 16 women and 27 men from the Patidar community.
They were earlier booked on charges of rioting (IPC 147), attempt to murder (IPC 307), wrongful restraint(341) and criminal intimidation (IPC 506-2) and the SC/ST Act.
Rathod's lawyer, Kevalsinh Rathod, told The Indian Express that he used the horse's death as one of the arguments while opposing the anticipatory bail application of the accused before a district court on Monday, 27 May.
“We opposed it on several grounds like the procession was attacked even when we had taken police protection. Also, the horse on which the groom was riding, had sustained serious injuries in the stone-pelting and died. Police have recorded a statement of the horse owner (Kesrisinh Chauhan from nearby Vanta-Rampur village) who is supporting our complaint.”Kevalsinh Rathod, Complainant’s Lawyer
Kevalsinh added that the bail application was rejected, however, the accused are yet to be arrested.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)