THOOTHUKUDI/TIRUNELVELI: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairperson Kishor Makwana and members of the commission visited the house of C Kavin Selvaganesh -- suspected victim of a murder in the name of caste honour -- at Arumugamangalam village near Eral in Thoothukudi on Tuesday.
Makwana consoled the victim's parents, C Chandrasekar and Tamil Selvi, and family members, and assured them of extending the commission's support. He was accompanied by Thoothukudi collector K Elambahavath, inspector general of police B Shamoondeswari, Tirunelveli city police commissioner Santosh Hadimani, and deputy commissioners of police V Vinoth Santharam and V Prasannakumar, among others.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu National Congress (TNCC) state secretary V S Kamalika Kamaraj, who is also the grandniece of the late Congress leader and former chief minister K Kamaraj, consoled Kavin's parents. Terming honour killing a "social malady", she urged the state government to implement a special Act to protect democracy and the future Tamil society.
In connection with the murder, Makwana held a consultation meeting at the Tirunelveli collectorate with police personnel and officials from various departments on Tuesday. The chairperson and his team of officials, including DIG Sanmeet Kaur, deputy directors Dr Dinesh Vyas and Dr R Stalin, and state director of the commission Dr S Ravivarman (Chennai), reviewed the progress of the investigation into the murder and the steps taken by the police so far. Tirunelveli collector Dr R Sukumar, Adi Dravidar Welfare officers Poongodi (Tirunelveli) and Bennet Asir (Thoothukudi), and the aforementioned police personnel attended the meeting.
On August 1, chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare and retired justice S Tamilvanan conducted an inquiry into the case, said Tirunelveli district administration.
'Suspect should not be given bail'
After submitting a memorandum to the NCSC chairperson during his visit, the victim's father Chandrasekar told media persons that the family members had sought stringent action against everyone involved in the murder, besides demanding the arrest of suspect Surjith's mother Krishnakumari (a sub-inspector of police) and an investigation against Palayamkottai inspector Kasipandian. The chairperson of the commission has assured to take necessary action, he said.
"Surjith should not be given bail and he should be imprisoned for life. If he gets out of jail, he will be glorified as a hero by a section of people," said Chandrasekar.
When asked about Chief Minister M K Stalin's phone call on Monday, Chandrasekar said the CM consoled them and invited them to meet him at Chennai. However, I told him that I could not leave the village until the post-funeral rituals were over, he said.