Honour killing: Accused still at large

DSS urges gallows for Mahadeva, who allegedly killed Shruti

Mahadeva, the brother of Shruti alias Smruti who was killed over her decision for having married a man from different caste, is still at large.  City police commissioner K L Sudhir has formed three teams to nab him which are carrying out searches in Periyapatna, Chamarajanagar and surrounding areas. However, so far, no solid leads have been obtained regarding his whereabouts.

Meantime, chairperson of National Women’s Commission Manjula visited the residence of Shruti and said the Commission would obtain all records regarding Shruti’s marriage to Sudeep, and provide necessary help to family members. Shruti was found murdered in her residence at Alanahalli on Tuesday. Sudeep, a Dalit, worked as assistant physical education director at Tumkur University. Shruti’s brother Mahadeva allegedly flew into a rage over her refusal to marry someone other than Sudeep, owing to the latter’s caste.

DSS urges gallows

Dalit Sangharsha Samithi on Wednesday, urged the authorities to recommend the harshest of the punishment to Mahadeva, which is nothing  short of gallows, for having murdered his sister over caste issue. In a press release, Bettaiah Kote, district convenor of DSS said: “Though the grandmother, a direct witness to the incident, is saying inter-caste marriage was the reason behind Mahadeva killing his own sister in this gruesome manner, the police have recorded it as unnatural death under suspicious circumstances. This may give the accused a leeway to escape harsher punishment.”

Protest

CPI(M) activists staged a protest against Shruti’s murder, urging for the arrest of accused. Stating that such cases of honour killing were on the rise in the country, the culprits had to be brought to book and punished severly, so as to serve as a lesson to others. Citizens should, in all possible ways, try to build a society without caste barrier.