Santa Bahadur Chandaro (Biswokarma), a resident of Malamul in Pokhara-32, says he never imagined that accepting a neighbour’s wedding invitation would end in public humiliation.

Instead of sharing in the celebration, he returned home without eating after allegedly being subjected to caste-based discrimination at the feast.

The incident took place on February 21 at Namaste Party Palace in Pokhara-26 during the wedding reception of the son of Kashiram Ghimire, Chandaro’s neighbour. Chandaro, the only invitee from the Dalit community from Malamul, arrived at around 1 pm. The reception was organised as a self-service buffet for guests.

As he entered the venue and moved towards the food area, another neighbour, Sabitri Baral, approached him and quietly told him not to stand in the queue. “I will bring food to your plate. We can sit separately and eat,” she reportedly said.

Chandaro said he immediately understood that he was being prevented from joining the common line because of his caste. When he asked who had given the instruction, Baral allegedly pointed towards the groom’s father, Ghimire, and said he had directed that Chandaro should not mix with others at the feast and should instead be served separately.

Feeling insulted in front of other guests, Chandaro left the venue without eating. “I did not eat even after returning home, and I could not sleep all night,” he said. “If they meant to humiliate me in front of so many people, they should not have invited me at all.”

The following day, 60-year-old retired teacher Ghimire visited Chandaro’s home along with several neighbours. He reportedly told Chandaro not to take the matter seriously and apologised, saying, “Forget what happened there, let bygones be bygones”. Others who accompanied him urged that the issue be settled within the community.

Chandaro, however, refused to withdraw the matter. “When everyone else is serving themselves, and I alone am told that food will be brought to me separately, that is clearly caste discrimination,” he said. “How long should we continue to endure such treatment in the name of social harmony?”

On Sunday, Chandaro went to the District Police Office to file a complaint under the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011. He alleged that police initially pressured him to resolve the matter through discussion rather than registering the complaint.

Encouraged by his relative and Dalit activist Mahesh Godar Sunar, Chandaro returned to the police office on Monday along with other activists and demanded that a formal complaint be registered. After sustained pressure and warnings of protest by members of the Dalit community, police registered the case and arrested Ghimire the same day. Baral was arrested on Tuesday.

Mahesh Godar alleged that they received threatening phone calls from leaders of the CPN-UML, saying the matter should be settled within the village. “Just because we have to live in the same village does not mean we must tolerate discrimination,” he said.

Ghimire has denied the allegations, stating that he had asked everyone to manage the feast properly and had not practised untouchability.

Chandaro has sought punishment under Section 7 and compensation under Section 9 of the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011. Section 3 of the law prohibits any form of caste-based discrimination or untouchability, while Section 4(2) defines as an offence any act that prevents a person from entering, participating in, or being present at public or private events on the basis of caste, tradition, religion, community or occupation.

Section 7 provides for imprisonment ranging from three months to three years and fines from Rs50,000 to Rs200,000. Section 9 provides for compensation of up to Rs200,000 to the victim.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Bahadur Basnet, spokesperson for the Kaski District Police Office, said that the district court has granted a five-day remand to keep the accused in custody for further investigation.