Honour killing of 3 in Tiruvarur: Accused get multiple life-terms

The three murders were committed at Keezhamaruthur village coming under Mannarkudi taluk in Tiruvarur district after a Dalit girl, Amirthavalli, fell in love with a man from another caste, Pazhaniappan and married him. The family of Amirthavalli was working as labourers in the farm owned by Pazhaniappan’s family. Pazhaniappan, a divorcee, had fallen in love with Amirthavalli and had married her in 2013. Later, the couple shifted to Tirupur and started life afresh. Amirthavalli gave birth to a baby boy in 2014. The couple along with their son returned to their native village, on December 10, 2014, with plan to convince their family members. 

But on learning that the couple had come to the village, Pazhaniappan’s two brothers, Ramakrishnan and Sivasubramanian, along with two others murdered the couple and also the baby. Their bodies were thrown at three different places. 

The Special PCR Court at the Additional Sessions Court-I, in Thanjavur after the trial in the case convicted all the four and said that the quantum of sentence would be pronounced on Friday. Judge, S Karthikeyan, while delivering the sentence on Friday awarded 37 years of jail term to accused no.1, Ramakrishnan, and 30 years each to accused no.2 and 3, Sivasubramanian and Durairaj. 

The fourth accused, Mahendran, was slapped with three years rigorous imprisonment. The family of Amirthavalli, while welcoming the judgment, said that their only wish was to see the accused remain in jail till their life. Speaking to reporters, the family sought police protection as they had received threats from the family of Pazhaniappan.