Tirunelveli ‘honour' killing case: Police sub-inspector couple picked up for inquiry
Sources in the police said that the deceased, C. Kavin Selvaganesh, 27, an IT employee from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, had reportedly proposed to the sister of the accused, Surjith, 23. While Kavin worked for a Chennai-based IT company, the woman, a Siddha practitioner, was employed at a private clinic in KTC Nagar, Palayamkottai. She belongs to a community in the Most Backward Caste (MBC) list. When the woman's parents Saravanakumar and Krishnaveni got to know about their daughter's liasion with a Dalit, they reportedly objected to it.
What happened on July 27?
Kavin had returned to his native village Arumugamangalam to take his ailing grandfather for treatment to the clinic where the woman was working, in KTC Nagar, on Sunday afternoon. Upon learning that Kavin was at the clinic, the woman's younger brother, Surjith, went there and asked him to accompany him for 'conciliation talks.'
Kavin was riding a bike along Mangammaal Salai in KTC Nagar, with Surjith riding pillion. After covering some distance on the road leading to the Palayamkottai-Thoothukudi four-lane highway, Surjith allegedly attacked Kavin with a machete. Kavin stopped the two-wheeler and attempted to flee, but Surjith chased him down and hacked him to death.
Passersby alerted the Palayamkottai police, who rushed to the spot and apprehended Surjith. He reportedly told the police that Kavin had been harassing his elder sister under the guise of love, and that she did not reciprocate his feelings. 'Since he continued to harass my innocent sister despite her repeated warnings, I murdered Kavin,' police sources quoted him as saying.
Family alleges 'honour' killing
The post-mortem examination on Kavin's body was performed at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on Monday (July 28). The relatives of the deceased, however, claimed to accept the body, alleging that it was an 'honour' killing.
'The couple had been in a relationship since their school days, and it continued up until yesterday. If it was truly unreciprocated love, as her family claims, they could have filed a complaint with the police, especially since the woman's parents are Sub-Inspectors,' said the relatives of the deceased.
'When it became clear to her family that she wanted to marry Kavin, they orchestrated this 'honour' killing. Therefore, the parents should also be arrested,' they added.
The police, after arresting Surjit, picked up Saravanakumar and Krishnaveni, who have been cited as accused 2 and 3 in the First Information Report (FIR), for inquiry. First Additional Sessions Judge Sathya, remanded Surjit to judicial custody till August 14.
Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City, Santosh Hadimani said: 'As of now, we only have the version of the accused. Only further investigation can reveal the details of the case.'
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