TIRUNELVELI, Tamil Nadu – A 27-year-old Dalit IT professional was allegedly murdered on Sunday evening in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, in what police suspect to be a hate crime related to his relationship with a woman from a dominant caste. Authorities have detained the woman’s 24-year-old brother, Surjit, in connection with the killing, while a formal complaint by the victim’s mother accuses the woman’s parents of issuing threats.
The incident occurred when the victim, Kavin Selva Ganesh, had gone to a clinic in Tirunelveli town to meet his schoolmate, S. Subhashini, who practices ancient Siddha medicine there. Ganesh intended to consult her regarding treatment for his ailing grandfather.
According to police, the accused, Surjit, is Subhashini’s brother. Their parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, are both sub-inspectors attached to a police battalion in Manimuthar, Tirunelveli. Police sources, requesting anonymity, confirmed that Subhashini’s family belongs to the dominant Maravar community in southern Tamil Nadu, while Ganesh belonged to the Devendra Kula Vellalar community—a sub-caste of Dalits. “The victim and the accused’s sister were schoolmates and had known each other for a long time… The woman’s family had objected to their relationship,” the officer stated.
On Sunday evening, Surjit allegedly confronted Ganesh outside the clinic. An argument reportedly broke out between the two, following which Surjit allegedly attacked Ganesh with a sickle, leading to his death. Ganesh’s body was later recovered just 200 meters away from the clinic. The post-mortem examination was completed at the Tirunelveli government hospital on Monday.
In a formal complaint lodged with the police, Ganesh’s mother, S. Tamilselvi, accused Subhashini’s parents of repeatedly threatening her son to end his relationship with their daughter.
Ganesh’s father, Chandrashekar, expressed his anguish and demanded immediate action against the accused’s parents. “My son is an innocent person. The woman asked my son to come to the hospital. The accused took my son out, threw chilli powder on his face and pulled out a machete to kill him… The government should immediately expel his mother and father from service. We will protest and not take my son’s body unless action is taken against them,” he stated.
Based on the parents’ complaint, Surjit and his parents (Saravanan and Krishnakumari) have been booked under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which recently replaced the Indian Penal Code.
“The prime accused has been arrested. Further investigations are underway,” a second police officer confirmed. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, highlighting the persistent issue of caste-based violence in inter-caste relationships despite legal protections.
Dalit IT Professional Allegedly Murdered In Tamil Nadu Over Inter-Caste Relationship; Woman’s Brother Detained
