Man declares daughter ‘dead’ over her contentious marriage issue

According to sources, the couple Saravanan and Yuvarani of Kuppurajapalayam near Ambur were angered after their daughter, Archana married against their wishes. Kuppurajapalayam which is approximately six kilometres away from Ambur is predominated by members of a certain Caste Hindu community. 

While Saravanan is a milk vendor, Archana had just completed her degree. She fell in love with Saravanan who is also from the same locality and is currently searching for a job after completing his undergraduate in biotechnology from Vaniyambadi Islamiah College. While Saravanan’s father Kuselan also belongs to dominant Caste Hindu community, his mother Ranjitham to whom his father has been married to for 30 years belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. 

After Saravanan and Archana tied the knot on June 6, the couple sought shelter at the Ambur All women police station, fearing reprisals from Saravanan’s family. Though the police called both sides’ parents, Saravanan, filled with rage said that he would consider his daughter as dead. Soon afterwards, Saravavan printed posters stating that his beloved daughter had met with an accident and an untimely death on Sunday at 2pm. It also stated that the last rites and burial of Archana would take place in the Kuppurajapalayam cemetery at 3.30pm on Monday.

When media contacted the village, it was found that the houses of Saravanan and Kuselan were locked. Ranjitham who was contacted later told that Archana’s father Saravanan had reportedly threatened them that he would murder their son if he set his foot in the village.  “We have complained to the police and have sought police protection for our son,” she said.