TRICHY: A 28-year-old dalit man was hacked to death near Mayiladuthurai on Monday night by the relatives of a dalit girl who opposed his decade-long relationship with her. Police have arrested five suspects amid protests by the victim's family demanding that the SC/ST Act be invoked. They alleged that the girl's mother, who was a non-dalit, instigated the murder.
The victim, K Vairamuthu, was in a relationship with Malini, 26, a girl from his locality who worked in Chennai. While Malini and her father are from the same scheduled caste community, her mother, Vijaya, is a non-dalit. "The girl's mother strongly disliked Vairamuthu and his mother. Hence, she opposed their relationship and their wedding plan," Mayiladuthurai SP G Stalin told TOI.
Recently, Vijaya confronted Vairamuthu at his workplace, and was seen showering abuse on him in a video allegedly filmed by him. At a police mediation last week, Malini affirmed her intent to marry Vairamuthu, and subsequently moved in with him after her family disowned her. They were planning a registered marriage.
Two days ago, Malini left for Chennai for work. On Monday night, a group of six men wielding sickles ambushed Vairamuthu while he was returning home on his two-wheeler and attacked him. He succumbed to injuries to his neck and hands at Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital. Police registered a case based on a complaint by Vairamuthu's mother, Rajalakshmi. SP Stalin formed four special teams to nab the culprits amid heightened tensions in the village and arrested five suspects.
The murder sparked outrage, with more than 150 people, including Vairamuthu's family, Malini, and members of CPM, Tamil Nadu Theendamai Ozhippu Munnani, VCK, and DYFI, carrying out a road blockade on the Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam highway on Tuesday.
Malini and other protesters demanded justice for Vairamuthu and action against Vijaya under the SC/ST Act. "We are investigating the mother's involvement and exploring the legal possibilities for invocating the act," the SP said.