Coimbatore : The teenaged Dalit girl, who was hacked, as part of honour killing in Mettupalayam four days ago, succumbed to her injuries in the Government Hospital in the early hours of Saturday. The death came when the National Commission for SC assured to recommend to the Centre and State governments on the need for a strong legislation against such crime.

A 22-year-old youth, Kanagaraj was hacked to death by his brother Vinodh Kumar and the girl Varshini Priya was critically injured after he noticed the lovers moving around and learnt that they had decided to marry with the blessings of their parents on June 25 in Mettupalayam, some 40 km from here. His younger brother was killed on the spot.

Vinod was arrested and lodged in the Central jail the next day.

The girl, who was undergoing treatment in the hospital died in the early hours.

Meanwhile, Commission Vice-Chairman L Murugan, who came here to inquire about the incident, told reporters this afternoon that he would recommend to the Centre the need to have a strong legislation against such crimes as demanded by various political parties and women’s organisations.

Murugan, who had discussions with District Collector K Rajamani and district SP Sujit Kumar, said that as demanded by the family of the deceased, a government job would be provided to one of the members and provide free education to the nearest kin.

Efforts would be taken for speedy trial and a public prosecutor appointed in the case after chargesheet was filed in another 15 days, he said.

Regarding arrests of others involved in the killing, he said the elder brother had already been arrested and two persons were would be arrested after completing the formalities.

Though atrocities against SC/ST community was on the decline of late nationwide, there was an increase in such incidents in Kerala and West Bengal and the Commission was taking suo moto cases against such crimes.

Separately, CPM politburo member MG Ramakrishnan who visited the hospital condemned the honour killing and urged both the Centre and State governments to provide protection in case of inter-caste marriages.