Dalit Husband Alleges Honour Killing of Kallar Woman

MADURAI:  In a case of suspected honour killing, a 28-year-old Caste Hindu woman was allegedly murdered by her elder brother at their house in Kuyavian Kudi village in Ramanathapuram on last Saturday night accusing her of infidelity. But her husband S Sateesh Kumar (31), a Dalit, who flew down from Malaysia on June 23, has alleged that it was a case of honour killing.

The police arrested Dinesh Kumar, the elder brother of Bhavani, on the next day under Section 302 of the IPC based on a complaint by her father Jayakumar of the same village.

Sateesh Kumar of Sivakkam in Cuddalore district and Bhavani had fallen in love when they worked together at a garment company in Tirupur. When Bhavani’s family members learned about their relationship, they got them married in 2008. However, Sateesh Kumar hid his caste identity at the time of their marriage, Sateesh Kumar told Express.

When Bhavani’s family members learned that Sateesh Kumar was a Dalit, her relatives picked up a quarrel with him, after which the couple had stayed at a separate home for six years with their two sons. Meanwhile, Jayakumar approached Sateesh and asked him to take up a job at a stationary shop in Malaysia to improve family income, Sateesh Kumar said. After Sateesh left to Malaysia on August 21, 2013, Bhavani along with her children moved to her father’s house in Kuyanvian Kudi village. “However, my relatives harassed her for marrying me. Hence, Bhavani moved to Tiruchy to work along with her friend at a supermarket store,” said Sateesh Kumar.

On last Wednesday, Bhavani’s parents spoke to Sateesh and asked him to send their daughter and grand children for a family function. When Bhavani and her children visited Kuyanvian Kudi village on Saturday, her brother Dinesh Kumar picked up a quarrel with Bhavani suspecting she had an illicit relationship with a person in Tiruchy, claimed Sateesh. “Dinesh murdered her by slitting her throat on Saturday night because she married me,” he claimed.

When contacted, Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police N M Mayilvahanan said that it was too early to conclude anything on the case.

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