Honour killing: Newly-wed youth murdered by bride’s kin in K’giri

COIMBATORE: A newly married youth was brutally hacked to death in full public view by his father-in-law-led gang in Krishnagiri on Tuesday afternoon. The relatives of the victim’s wife were opposed to the love marriage.

A video of the honour killing incident, showing victim C Jagan from Kittampatti being attacked brutally with sickles by a gang in broad daylight on a service road linking Dharmapuri-Krishnagiri National Highway, has gone viral on social media.

A construction worker involved in fixing tiles, Jagan married S Saranya, 21 from a village near Avathanapatti after being in love. Though they both belong to the same Vanniyar community, Jagan was economically poorer than his wife.

Eventually, Saranya’s parents, who came to know of their love affair, made arrangements to get her married to a person of their choice.

However, Saranya left her house, got married to Jagan one month ago, and also snapped ties with members of her family. Upset over the developments, the in-laws of Jagan conspired to murder him and intercepted his two-wheeler, and pushed him down, while he was heading for work around 2 pm.

As Jagan lost balance and fell down, his father-in-law Shankar and two others attacked him with a sickle. In the spine-chilling video, one of them holds his leg, while two others hit him repeatedly with sickles, killing him on the spot.

The trio then sped away in their two-wheelers, even as several members of the public remained mute spectators.

The daring incident of honour killing triggered a protest by the deceased person’s family members and relatives, who disallowed police from taking his body for a post-mortem from the crime scene.

As the situation grew tense, Superintendent of Police Saroj Kumar Thakur arrived and persuaded the protesters to withdraw their protest, while assuring speedy action.

Thereafter, the police sent the body for a post-mortem at Krishnagiri Government Hospital, while the Kaveripattinam police registered a case and further inquiries are on. Meanwhile, prime accused Shankar surrendered before the Mahila Court in Krishnagiri, while a search is on for his accomplices.