Chennai News Tamil Nadu

Displeased By Sister’s Inter-Caste Marriage, Dalit Youth Stabbed To Death In Chennai By 5

February 25, 2024
The Commune

The Tamil community is disturbed frequently by the ruthless acts of violence carried out in the name of honour and caste. Despite Tamil Nadu being celebrated by Dravidianists as a champion of social justice with special provisions for inter-caste marriages, there is a disturbing recurrence of such incidents in the state. A recent tragic event unfolded in Pallikaranai, where a youth from a Dalit community was brutally murdered in the capital city, Chennai, right in the middle of the road.

Praveen, a 26-year-old resident of Pallikaranai, developed a romantic relationship with Sharmi from Jalladayampet over the past four months. Despite lacking her family’s approval, Praveen took the bold step of marrying Sharmi. This decision fueled anger within Sharmi’s family, particularly her brother Dinesh, who harbored intentions of revenge.

In a tragic turn of events, Dinesh and three accomplices ambushed Praveen near the Jolly Bay TASMAC bar in Pallikaranai, Chennai, around 9PM on 24 February 2024. They mercilessly hacked him, leading to severe injuries. Prompt action from neighbors resulted in Praveen being rushed  to Crompet Government Hospital in an ambulance. Regrettably, the medical examination at the hospital confirmed his demise during transit.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the Pallikaran police swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate an investigation. Preliminary findings disclosed that the victim was Praveen, a 26-year-old resident of Ambedkar Street, Pallikaranai. Subsequent inquiries by the police unveiled more details about the incident.

Initial police investigations suggest a premeditated attack near the TASMAC bar, where Dinesh, the elder brother, inflicted fatal injuries on Praveen using a knife. Motivated by Praveen’s marriage to Sharmi without her parents’ consent, Dinesh allegedly executed the gruesome act as an act of retribution.

After the murder case was officially registered, the police actively pursued the fugitives and successfully apprehended four individuals, including Dinesh, the woman’s brother, who have all been taken into custody for their roles in the crime. A dedicated team, led by the Police Inspector of Pallikaranai, has been assembled to thoroughly investigate the incident, with ongoing efforts to ascertain if additional individuals were involved.

Recently Reported Honour Killings In Tamil Nadu

On 3 January 2023, a tragic incident unfolded as 19-year-old Ishwarya fell victim to a horrifying honour killing. Shockingly, she was tragically burned to death by her own family for marrying Naveen, a 19-year-old Dalit, on 31 December 2023, with the support of friends in Tirupur. The subsequent police investigation resulted in the arrest of Ishwarya’s father and four other relatives implicated in this appalling act.

In a case of honour killing, a man reportedly murdered his mother and son allegedly due to a disagreement over his son marrying a woman from the Scheduled Caste community against his wishes in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu in April 2023.

In October 2021, a 24-year-old Dalit individual, Prabhakaran, succumbed to fatal stab wounds inflicted by the father of a 17-year-old girl with whom he was romantically involved in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

The recent tragic incident in Tamil Nadu involving an honour killing underscores the absence of dedicated laws to address such atrocities, emphasizing the persistent challenges faced by inter-caste marriages. This case of honour killing in a bustling area of Chennai, has gained substantial public attention. In Tamil Nadu, inter-caste marriages most of ten encounter opposition from parents, relatives, and influential members of society, resulting in cruel acts without hesitation. The prevailing societal norm still largely rejects love marriages, contributing to instances of caste-agnostic killings targeting couples from different caste strata who engage in such unions. Despite the claims of establishing social justice by the Dravidian ideologues over the past decades, honour killings continue to occur in Tamil Nadu.

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