Kaushalya’s father claims that he had nothing to do with the killing but was surrendering out of fear

Even as father of C Kaushalya, Chinnasamy, surrendered before the court in Dindigal after his daughter and son-in-law were attacked with sickles and machetes, killing V Shankar and grievously injuring the girl. She is now battling for her life in ICU of the hospital, where she told the police that her family members were behind the killing of her husband in what appears to be a honor killing.

Shankar, a dalit boy, had married Kaushlaya belonging to a higher caste against the wishes of her family and ever since their marriage eight months ago the couple has been under pressure. Once she was kidnapped by her parents, but had to be released after Shankar’s father filed a police complaint.

Kaushalya blamed her parents squarely in her statement to the police on Sunday night. The boy’s parents too blamed the police for not preventing the attack as they had maintained that such an attack was possible given the constant threats emanating from her parents.

Parents and relatives Shankar refused to take his body as a protest alleging that despite available evidence and background, and the direct complaint of the girl against her family members, the police was not taking any action.

The ghastly daylight killing in the open had sent shock waves across Tamil Nadu, with womens organisations and civil society bodies lamenting that the criminals had become so bold that they had absolutely no fear of law and were carrying out such violent activities in such a blatant manner.

On Sunday afternoon, at around 3 p.m. three persons, armed with sickles and machetes, rode towards the bus stand of Udumalai and parked their bike and waited for Shankar and Kaushlaya. The moment they came out of the bus stop, the trio wildly slashed them with sickles and machetes repeatedly with an intent to kill them.

The shrieks of help from the couple, sadly, brought no help as people were too scared and numb to react to the shocking display dance of death in front of their eyes. Even those few who braved to approach to help the fallen young couple were attacked the by the three, before they escaped on their bike.

Shankar, who was mercilessly hacked succumbed to injuries on the way to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and Kousalya is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the CMCH. She has sustained severe head injuries.

Velusamy (47), Shankar’s father alleged that even on previous occasion, his daughter in law was abducted by her parents and locked up in their house. It was only after a police case was registered against them that she was let off and allowed to go back to her husband. Shankar is still studying for his engineering degree from a private college in Palani.

Velusamy maintained that they used to perpetually get threats of dire consequences from the girls parents. Such is their power, he said, that the police have not taken any action despite the vedio footage of the ghastly incident and pictures of the heavily armed assailants. Kausalya insisted that it was her family members who were behind the attack.

Tirupur Superintendent Saroj Kumar Tagore visited the CMCH, where Kausalya continues to be in a critical condition.

Womens organisations and political parties have congregated near the hospital and were planning to mount major protests demanding action against the culprits.