Dalit couple barred from Hindu temple in India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A newly married couple from India’s Dalit community was allegedly prevented from entering a Hindu temple in the southern state of Karnataka, in an incident that has renewed attention on caste-based discrimination despite longstanding legal prohibitions.

The couple, identified as Pankaja and Puneeth, had gone to the Arasamma temple in Goni village, in Tumakuru district, shortly after their wedding to seek blessings. According to police, a local man confronted them, claimed to be possessed by a deity and ordered them to leave, allegedly stating that Dalits were not permitted to enter the temple.

A video of the confrontation circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism and prompting a police investigation.

Dalits — formerly referred to as “untouchables” — are communities historically placed at the bottom of Hinduism’s centuries-old caste hierarchy. Although caste-based discrimination was outlawed under India’s Constitution in 1950, and “untouchability” was formally abolished, social exclusion and violence linked to caste identity persist in parts of the country, particularly in rural areas.

Following a complaint filed by Pankaja’s brother at a local police station, authorities registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The law, enacted in 1989, provides enhanced penalties for crimes committed against members of historically marginalized caste and tribal groups.

Police said a man identified as Narayanappa was arrested on charges related to preventing the couple from entering the temple. The First Information Report — the initial complaint document in India’s criminal justice system — also names others allegedly involved in supporting the act. Investigators said efforts are ongoing to locate additional suspects.

Temple access has long been central to struggles against caste discrimination in India. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality and decades of reform movements, Dalits continue to report exclusion from places of worship, segregation during religious events and social boycotts in various parts of the country. 

Rights groups say such incidents reflect entrenched caste hierarchies that remain embedded in social and religious life.

Local administrative officials, including revenue and police authorities, convened a meeting in the village to address tensions and reiterate the legal prohibition of untouchability. Officials said the gathering aimed to promote community harmony and awareness of the consequences of caste-based discrimination.