CHENNAI: A young man was allegedly hacked to death in Thaiyur in Chengalpattu district over his inter-caste relationship with a woman. The police have arrested four persons in connection with the murder and formed a special team to trace the other suspects, according to a Maalaimalar report.
The deceased, Praveen Kumar, a resident of Thaiyur, was reportedly in a relationship with a woman from a different caste. The relationship had allegedly faced strong opposition from the woman's family.
According to the report, a gang allegedly chased Praveen Kumar and attacked him with weapons. He sustained severe injuries in the assault. Local residents rushed him to a hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. However, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following the incident, Tiruporur police registered a case and arrested four persons identified as Ezhumalai, Manikandan, Nandeesh and Gowtham, all from Thaiyur village. Police have also formed a special team to intensify the search for other suspects who are absconding in connection with the case.
Investigations are under way to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the attack and the involvement of others in the incident.
News of Praveen Kumar's death triggered a protest by his relatives and members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). More than 500 people reportedly gathered and staged a road blockade, demanding the immediate arrest of all those involved in the murder.
The protest disrupted traffic on the busy stretch for several hours.
The protesters later temporarily called off the blockade following talks with police officials.
The Neelam Cultural Centre, led by filmmaker Pa Ranjith, strongly condemned the murder and expressed concern over the continued incidents of caste-based honour killings in Tamil Nadu.
In a post on Saturday (August 22), the organisation said such incidents posed a serious threat to social harmony and called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to prevent such crimes.
It also urged the State government to enact a separate law specifically aimed at preventing honour killings and ensuring strict action against those involved.