Inter-caste couple hacked to death in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi
A newly-wed couple, who had married against the wishes of their parents, was hacked to death in their sleep allegedly by the girl’s relatives, at their house in Vilathikulam village in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday (July 4).
The deceased were identified as T Solairaja (23) and Petchiammal alias Jothi (20), both residents of Periyar Colony in Kulathur village.
Despite opposition from Petchiammal’s parents — who belonged to the pallar caste — against her relationship with Solairaja, who belonged to the parayar caste, the duo tied the knot on April 15. After the wedding, the couple moved into Periyar Colony in Kulathur.
But their marital bliss was short-lived. The couple on Wednesday (July 3) night had slept outside their house due to power outage in the locality. Taking advantage of the situation, the assailants sneaked into their premises in the early hours of Thursday and hacked the couple to death, police said. “The gang brutally hacked the couple to their death. More than two people must have been involved in it,” police said.
Petchiammal sustained multiple injuries and her left wrist was chopped off. Solairaja sustained multiple injuries on his neck and his right hand.
Police suspect Petchiammal’s relatives of the murders. Petchiammal’s father A Azhagar (50) has been arrested for his alleged involvement, police said.
Sources said as many as five people are involved in the murder. Kulathur police in Thoothukudi have registered a case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and are probing the matter.
It may be recalled that a week ago, an inter-caste couple Kanakaraj and Varshini in Mettupalayam of Coimbatore were hacked to death by Kanakaraj’s brother Vinoth.
Democratic Youth Federation of India district secretary MS Muthu called the murders a case of honour killing though both of them belonged to the scheduled caste. He also demanded a special legislation for honour killings.
Also read: Honour killings are on the rise
