Tamil Nadu Dalit man hacked to death in suspected honour killing, family protests

A 25-year-old Dalit man from Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, was murdered near a private hospital in Thirunelveli on Sunday in what is reportedly an act of honour killing. The victim, identified as Kavin, was employed in an IT firm and had been in a relationship with his former schoolmate, who now works at a private hospital in KTC Nagar.

Despite strong opposition from the woman’s family, Kavin had expressed his determination to marry her. On Sunday, he had gone to the hospital to meet her and was waiting nearby when her brother, Surjeet, approached him and said he wanted to speak. According to police sources, an argument broke out during which Surjeet allegedly pulled out a sickle and hacked Kavin to death just 200 metres from the hospital.

Surjeet fled the scene but later surrendered at the Palayamkottai police station. Police retrieved Kavin’s body and sent it to the District Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. Officers also collected CCTV footage from the area surrounding the crime scene to aid the investigation.

Following the incident, Kavin’s family has launched a protest and is refusing to accept his body. They are demanding legal action not only against Surjeet, but also against his father Saravanan and mother Krishnakumari, both of whom serve in the police force.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

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