Third Arrest in Tamil Nadu Honour Killing Case

The Crime Branch-CID (CBCID) made a third arrest on Wednesday in the brutal honour killing of 23-year-old Dalit software engineer Kavin Selvaganesh, intensifying the investigation into a case that has ignited widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu. Jeyapaul, cousin of the prime accused, Surjith, was apprehended for allegedly sheltering Surjith after the murder, which took place on July 23 in Tirunelveli’s KTC Nagar. This follows the arrests of Surjith and his father, Sub-Inspector Saravanan, as the probe deepens into a crime rooted in caste-based opposition to an inter-caste relationship.

Kavin, a Thoothukudi native from the Scheduled Caste Devendra Kula Vellalar community, was hacked to death in broad daylight, allegedly by Surjith, who opposed Kavin’s relationship with his sister, Subashini, a Siddha doctor from the dominant Maravar caste. The couple, who had known each other since school, faced escalating hostility from Subashini’s family. On the day of the murder, Kavin was at a Siddha centre in KTC Nagar, seeking treatment for his ailing grandfather, when Surjith allegedly lured him away on a motorcycle, as captured by CCTV footage. Authorities say Surjith threw chili powder in Kavin’s eyes before attacking him with a sickle, a crime reconstructed by CBCID sleuths on Tuesday for court evidence.

The case, charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, has been transferred to the CBCID to ensure impartiality, given the involvement of Surjith’s parents, both serving Sub-Inspectors. Saravanan was arrested on July 31 after evidence suggested his role in abetting the crime, while his wife, Krishnakumari, has been suspended but not yet arrested, prompting continued protests from Kavin’s family, who refused to accept his body for four days, demanding justice.

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Kavin’s mother, Tamilselvi, a schoolteacher, alleged in her complaint that Surjith used casteist slurs during the attack and claimed his parents would find “peace” only after Kavin’s death. The family’s outrage, echoed by political leaders like Kamal Haasan and VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, has fueled calls for a dedicated law to combat caste-based killings. Dalit rights NGO Evidence demanded a transparent second autopsy, citing concerns over the initial postmortem and suspicions of trained assailants’ involvement.

In an unverified video, Subashini professed her love for Kavin, claiming her parents were unaware of their relationship and uninvolved in the murder. However, the CBCID continues to probe potential conspiracies, with Jeyapaul’s arrest marking a critical link in unraveling the case. As Tamil Nadu grapples with this tragedy, the incident underscores the persistent scourge of caste violence and raises urgent questions about police accountability.

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