Nalgonda honour killing: Wounds of caste murder still hurt Pranay’s family

HYDERABAD: Two months have passed and the images of the gruesome attacks on Pranay and Madhavi have begun to fade from public memory. But for their families, it’s a painfully slow journey  to normalcy. Pranay was hacked to death by a person hired by his father-in-law Maruthi Rao in Miryalaguda, whereas, Madhavi sustained severe injuries after her father Manohara Chary attacked her in full public view at Erragadda recently.

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Speaking to Express, P Balaswamy, Pranay’s father, informed that Amrutha is now fighting a personal battle of being independent by resuming her studies. “She is confused. There are so many things to decide about the future. But for now, she is keeping herself occupied with studies. We just got her a laptop on which she practices her designs,” informs an emotional Balaswamy, who was in the city for a round table conference on violence on intercaste marriages by Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS). Amrutha, who was only 21 when she got married and widowed discontinued her study in Fashion Technology, but is now contemplating to restart the same after her delivery.

The family which recently identified the accused and is awaiting the chargesheet to be filed is hoping that Maruti Rao does not get a bail, which will be contested in court on October 24. Meanwhile, for Sandeep, who was a victim of caste-based violence at the hands of his wife Madhavi’s father, future prospects look bleak.

“The attack has left Madhavi paralysed literally. We are grateful for all the help we received for her treatment. But what do I do to support her and my family from now?” asks Sandeep who left his B.Com course midway. Madhavi, who was discharged last week, however, requires medical intervention every ten days, with year long of medication. She is unable to close her right eye even now. “Mother says she will do odd jobs and feed us, she wants me to study.

But how can I allow her to work as I sit at home? I hope government gives me a job,” he says. His sister Varalakshmi adds, “For now if he gets work, it’s okay, but we are afraid that if Madhavi’s father gets bail and attacks us again, what will we do if he is hacked like Pranay?”

Amrutha shares a similar fear, informs Balaswamy. “After this horrifying incident we thought of taking her for a psychological consult to Hyderabad. But she fears to even step out of the home.

Her mother has been contacting her to return and guaranteeing that she would take care of the baby and her, but Amrutha is shaken. A mention of Hyderabad makes her tremble, it brings back all the memories they shared,” he adds.