Quick Summary:
- Kavin Selvaganesh, a Scheduled Caste engineer working in Chennai, was recently murdered in Tirunelveli by his girlfriend’s brother from the Most Backward Caste.
- The incident has sparked calls for legislation against caste-based hate crimes in Tamil Nadu.
- Such crimes are not isolated to rural areas; Chennai has witnessed similar tragedies tied to caste and class prejudice.
- A case from 2011 highlights chilling parallels: Parthasarathy, a 24-year-old engineer, was murdered by his wife Saranya’s father after their inter-caste love marriage faced family opposition.
- Parthasarathy’s burned body was discovered in Villupuram district days after he went missing on June 2, 2011. His family confirmed his identity during police investigations.
- Saranya had warned police about her family’s disapproval but stated they did not act seriously before the murder occurred.
- Investigators uncovered that hired men tracked and killed Parthasarathy following directions from her father Narasimhan and associated accomplices, including Saluja-a widow who facilitated the plans-and her connections within Chennai’s Metrowater authorities.
indian Opinion Analysis:
caste-related violence remains an entrenched problem across Tamil Nadu as highlighted by recent events involving Kavin Selvaganesh and historical cases like Parthasarathy’s murder in urban settings like Chennai.While political calls for specialized legislation have grown louder following these incidents, addressing underlying social prejudices must also be prioritized alongside legal reforms to deter such heinous acts effectively.
A recurring theme is law enforcement’s initial dismissal of victims’ warnings when caste-related motives underpin familial disputes-a gap that exacerbates consequences of unchecked bias-driven violence.
Ultimately, both rural and urban manifestations point toward systemic issues needing nuanced handling beyond laws alone-education on equality principles paired with stricter accountability frameworks could foster gradual change against ingrained societal divisions across regions irrespective urgency builds forward Read More