Latest news with #KavinSelvaganesh
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Caste killing: investigation will be completed in 60 days, Tamil Nadu government informs High Court
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the investigation in the caste killing of Kavin Selvaganesh would be completed in two months. The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by S.M.A. Pon Gandhimathinathan of Thoothukudi district, who had sought a direction for a CB-CID probe, to be monitored by a Tirunelveli District Judge. More relief sought The petitioner had also sought a direction to the government to provide an adequate compensation of ₹50 lakh under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules to the family of the deceased and to bring in a separate Act to prevent 'honour' killings. He said the accused, Surjith, the brother of the girl Kavin loved, and his father Saravanan, a sub-inspector, had been arrested, while Surjith's mother, Krishnakumari, also a sub-inspector, had not been arrested yet. (The accused belongs to the Most Backward Caste). According to the petitioner, Chandrasekar, father of Kavin, had alleged that inspector of police Kasipandian had earlier threatened Kavin with dire consequences and acted in a biased manner in favour of the family of the accused. Given the fact that the parents of the accused are sub-inspectors and given the role of Kasipandian, a District Judge should monitor the investigation, the petitioner said. Additional Advocate-General M. Ajmal Khan submitted that the investigation would be completed by the CB-CID in 60 days and the final report would be filed. An interim compensation of ₹6 lakh had been handed over to the family. A case was booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. No offender would be allowed to go scot free, it was submitted. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete said the CB-CID had started the investigation and the petitioner had not raised any serious allegation against the investigating team. Giving a direction at this point of time would affect the independence of the investigating officers, the Bench said, posting the matter for further hearing after eight weeks. Panel reviews action In Tirunelveli, the Chairperson and Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes met Tirunelveli Collector R. Sukumar and top police officers on Tuesday to review the action being taken following the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh. He was killed on July 27. The eight-member Commission, led by its Chairperson Kishor Makwana, met the Collector, top police officers, and the heads of various departments. Dr. Sukumar explained the circumstances that led to the murder and the action taken by the police. The police also presented a report based on their investigation. Inspector-General of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights, B. Shamoondeswari; Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner Santosh Hadimani; Deputy Commissioners of Police Vinodh Shantharam and Prasanna Kumar; District Revenue Officer M. Suganya; and other officials took part at the meeting. The Commission members had planned to visit the spot where Kavin was murdered. But the plan was dropped. After the meeting, they went to Arumugamangalam to meet the family of the deceased.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Inter-caste marriages will help wipe out caste system'
I am unable to call the murders done in the name of caste as either 'honour or dishonour killings'. They are brutal pre-meditated murders. Such acts attract Section 101 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Murder attracts the punishment of death or imprisonment for life and is also liable to be fined under Section 103 of the BNS. Yet, time and again, we find that stringent law and punishment are not deterrent enough. After every case of murder in the name of caste, like that of Kavin Selvaganesh, there is a hue and cry to enact a special law against 'honour killing'. There is, of course, logic to this call, as such legislation will be seen as the state's response to treat such violence with iron hands. But even a casual perusal of special laws that deal with atrocities committed against Scheduled Castes and Tribes or the prevalence of child marriage despite the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, prove that legislation and stringent punishment cannot eradicate such offences unless there is a change in the minds of the society. For instance, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was enacted to give speedy relief to women by disposing of cases within 60 days. Yet it is not uncommon to see cases under this Act pending for more than three years. To ensure that no more youth are abused, pressured, victimised by false cases, assaulted or murdered in the name of caste or honour, social reform is the need of the hour. The Supreme Court in the Lata Singh case in 2006 said, 'The caste system is a curse on the nation and the sooner it is destroyed the better. In fact, it is dividing the nation at a time when we have to be united to face the challenges before the nation unitedly. Hence, inter-caste marriages are, in fact, in the national interest as they will result in destroying the caste system.'
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
VCK hopes to convince DMK govt. to enact law against caste hatred crimes
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is hopeful that it could prevail upon the DMK government to enact a legislation to deal with crimes driven by caste hatred in the next Assembly session, against the backdrop of the recent murder of a Scheduled Caste youth, Kavin Selvaganesh, in Tirunelveli district. Earlier, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had contended in the Assembly that existing laws were adequate to deal with such crimes. VCK sources said the party had been working diligently behind the scenes to convince the DMK leadership to enact a special legislation. At the same time, a section felt the State government was lenient in implementing laws to protect the Scheduled Castes, and wondered why the DMK didn't think of the community as a 'vote bank' like the OBCs. VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar told The Hindu that while the DMK government had introduced significant development schemes that benefit the Scheduled Caste communities directly and indirectly, it cannot ignore the constitutional duty of protecting them. 'The government has ensured development of Scheduled Castes in terms of their education and encouraging entrepreneurship. It has created infrastructure, introduced scholarships for Dalits, and these schemes will have a long-lasting impact. It has also introduced entrepreneurship schemes such as Dr. Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme, besides reserving government contracts for SCs. Even reserved Panchayats have their own special schemes for development. Other welfare schemes – Magalir Urimai Thogai, free bus travel, Pudhumai Penn – overwhelmingly benefit Scheduled Castes and Most Backward Classes,' he said. However, he felt development without ensuring equality was pointless. Mr. Ravikumar said the continuation of atrocities and caste killings will stop the development initiatives of the State government. 'Economic or educational development may be a choice of the government, but the State government is bound to ensure equality constitutionally,' he said.
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN ‘honour killing': Ministers, activists visit Kavin's kin to pay respects; urge kin to accept body
THOOTHUKUDI: Three days after Dalit youth C Kavin Selvaganesh (26) was hacked to death, several politicians, including ministers K N Nehru and Anitha Radhakrishnan, on Wednesday made a beeline to his house located at Arumugamangalam village near Eral and offered condolences to his family. Senior police officers tried to convince Kavin's parents to accept the solatium issued by the government and receive his body, which has been kept in the Tirunelveli GH after post morterm examination. But the family refused and demanded the arrest of Saravanan and Krishnakumari, sub-inspectors and parents of Surjit, the main suspect. Arumugamangalam remained shrouded in a eerie silence which was interrupted by the occasional wailing of Kavin's relatives. His relatives and several villagers wore black badges, and raised black flags in in their houses demanding justice. Farmers have been boycotting work over the last four days and stood by Kavin's family. On Wednesday, over 50 women blocked the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli NH demanding arrest of the suspect's parents. Police held talks with the protesters. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai spoke to Kavin's father Chandrasekar over phone. 'It has been four days since the brutal murder, however, no action has been taken,' he said, requesting the leader to pressure the government to arrest the parents. Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam chief John Pandian said that Kavin's family did not seek a CB-CID probe. 'Until the suspect's police parents are arrested, we will not receive Kavin's body,' he said.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli caste killing case probe must be shifted to CBI, demands NGO
As there is a chance of the State police's investigation into the alleged caste killing of Kavin Selvaganesh in Tirunelveli being compromised, the case should be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, according to A. Kathir, Executive Director of Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO. Stressing that both the parents of the accused, S. Surjith, 23, were Sub-Inspectors, Mr. Kathir, during a press meet here on Wednesday, said it would end up with investigating officers favouring the accused. He questioned the intention of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his Ministers who had not uttered a single word about the tragic death of the youth. 'When Mr. Stalin could call and express his condolence to the family of custodial death victim B. Ajith Kumar and the Ministers could visit his family, why don't they show the same concern in this case too?,' he asked. Commenting that Mr. Stalin was double-faced in his views about a separate Act for caste killing, he said, 'When the DMK was in opposition, it insisted on an Act for caste killing, but now, the same party leader refuses it, saying that the SC/ST Act was enough.' He questioned the SC/ST Commission's role in condemning the heinous act. 'As a Commission, why can they not be swift to condemn such a horrific crime against an SC youth in broad daylight?. Their laidback approach is not going to achieve anything,' he charged. The parents of the accused, who were also added as accused in the First Information Report, were yet to be arrested, he stated. 'The precedent the State is setting in investigating such sensitive cases is baffling. When the SI couple are learned to be supportive of their son's actions, why cannot the police arrest and remand them?,' he questioned.
