MANDTA: An alleged honour killing of a girl who fell in love with a Dalit boy has come to light two months after her death, with the police starting an investigation into the incident.
The girl was allegedly killed by her parents and a few others in the village. The incident came to light case as Thimmappa, brother of the Dalit boy, Govindaraju, accompanied by Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (DSS) activists, lodged a police complaint.
Suvarna, a final BA student of A D Beligowda College in Koppa and daughter of Davalan Ramakrishna, fell in love with Govindaraju, who was working in a jaggery unit in the village. When the girls’ family members learnt about their affair, they made Suvarana discontinue her studies and warned Govindaraju and his family members to stay away from her.
The girls’ family took steps to marry her off to a boy from their community.
Meanwhile, Suvarna decided to elope with Govindaraju. However, her family members and villagers rounded off Suvarna, and attacked Govindarju and his parents. The girls’ parents belong to Vokkaliga community and are allegedly close to influential leaders.
Infuriated with this incident, Suvrana’s family members disowned her. They then allegedly took her to Govindaraju’s house and hanged her to death two months back.
Though, some in the group wanted to lodge a compliant accusing Govindaraju’s family of killing Suvrana, they later decided to hush up the case and performed her last rites late in the evening.
The Dalit families, fearing attack by the upper caste, kept silent over the issue.
Thimmaiah came into contact with few a DSS activists and decided to lodge a complaint with the Koppa police. The police have registered a murder case against Davalan Ramakrishna and a few others.
Mandya SP Kawshalendra Kumar visited Aabalawadi and deployed police there to ensure peace and protection to the Dalits. Malvalli DSP Uthappa had been asked to investigate the case.
He said many evidences might not be available as the compliant had been filed after two months. The police have asked Thimappa to tell Govindaraju to appear before the police. But, Govinadarju who fled the village after he was attacked, had not turned up, he said.
When asked why the police did not take action initially, he said they could not proceed as there was no complaint lodged.
DSS state convenor Guruprasad Karegodu demanded the suspension of the Koppa Police SI for failing to suo motu investigate the case.