Tamil Nadu: Enact Special Law to Stop Caste-Killings, Demands TNUEF
Protest held in Mayiladudurai. Image courtesy: TNUEF
Chennai: To put an end to caste-based killings in the name of honour, the Tamil Nadu Abolition of Untouchability Front (TNUEF) held protest demonstrations in district headquarters on April 20. The front, which has been spearheading several struggles against atrocities on dalits, demanded that the state government pass a special legislation to curtail the ongoing massacres.
On Ambedkar Jayanti, April 14, a heinous attack took place in Uthangarai taluk of Krishnagiri district. Dhandapani killed his son for marrying Anusuya, a woman from a Ccheduled caste community. Kannamma, Dhandapani’s mother, who tried to stop the act, was attacked and died on the spot. Anusuya escaped with injuries and is undergoing treatment.
This incident has created a sensation in Tamil Nadu. In this context, TNUEF urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately enact the law, a long-pending demand of the front.
TNUEF condemned these heinous murders, and Samuel Raj, state general secretary of the organisation, said “strict action should be taken against the criminals who commit caste massacres. But they continue to be released on bail without conviction”.
“Caste organisations are openly and incessantly supporting such killings. They are even active about it on social media. This is encouraging caste-based massacres, which are repeatedly happening in Tamil Nadu” he added.
TNUEF stressed the need for an active vigilance and monitoring committee, which is headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. The committee was set up in July 2021, according to Rule 16 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995.
Last month in Krishnagiri, a man murdered his son-in-law, who belonged to his own caste, for choosing to marry of his choice.
In the name of caste pride and purity, the casteist elements deny the right to select the life partners of the people, though the Constitution has ensured such rights, observed TNUEF in a convention held in March 2022 demanding stringent law against ‘honour killing’.
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