New Delhi: A college lecturer in north Gujarat set to get married soon has been granted police protection as a precaution as the region has witnessed several attacks on Dalit marriage processions in recent times.The Times of India reported that the police have given security to college lecturer Naresh Vankar after he sought protection.“One deputy SP, five sub-inspectors, one inspector and 60 constables will be deployed to ensure peace,” said Sabarkantha district’s deputy superintendent of police Dinesh Chauhan.Vankar told TOI that his marriage procession was planned to travel through his village, Bhajpura, including its main market. “I requested police protection and it has been given”. The village, with a population of about 800, has around 30 Dalit households.There have been several instances of wedding processions being attacked after members of upper caste took objection to a Dalit groom riding a horse.Also read: At Ambedkar’s Birthplace in MP, Dalit Groom Beaten for Riding Horse, Burning CrackersIn 2019, there were three recorded cases of wedding processions being halted, at least of which led to a clash, in Sabarkantha district.The village head, Kalpesh Patel, apparently, expressed surprise at Vankar’s demand for protection. “It’s a simple marriage procession. There is no objection in the village”.The police officer had also certified that was no history of caste tensions in Bhajpura village.At the same time, Patel suggested that it would be better if the procession is carried out between 3 pm to 6 pm considering the rush of people going to fetch milk at the nearby dairy plant.