CHENNAI: Pasupathy, a Caste Hindu, and Ilayarani, a Dalit, fell in love and got married on September 1 even though Pasupathy’s parents — Pacharisi and Katachi — were against their marriage. Ilayarani was three months pregnant when Pasupathy married her, said K Elangovan, her brother. Pasupathy and Ilayarani married at Ayyanallur village in Thanjavur district.“Pasupathy stayed in our house for a week after the marriage. Then he collected Rs 4,500 from us stating that he is going to Chennai to work as a driver,” said Elangovan.However, he did not go to Chennai and instead, met his parents at Kamachipuram who did not entertain him, Elangovan said. “When he returned to Ayyanallur village, he told Ilayarani that he wanted to separate from her because his community has ostracised him and refused to give him his share of property,” he maintained.When she refused to agree to separation, Pasupathy picked up a quarrel with her, Elangovan added. On the night of September 15, when Ilarayani asked him to go to work instead of staying idle at home, he killed her, said A Kathir, Executive director of Evidence, an NGO working for Dalit rights. Kathir, along with his team members, went on a fact-finding mission to study the case.Kathir also pointed out that in the past two years, more than 18 honour killings had been reported in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. In Thanjavur district, Shivaji, a Dalit boy, was murdered for marrying a caste Hindu girl in 2009, he said.He also pointed out that honour killings were not confined to North India and were a serious issue in Tamil Nadu also. “We hope the present government will pay attention to the issue,” added Kathir.
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