In a tragic turn of events, a 21-year-old woman reportedly died by suicide in Chennai, just two months after her brother allegedly killed her husband in what appears to be a hate crime stemming from their inter-caste marriage, according to police sources.
The woman, who resided with her in-laws, attempted suicide on April 20 and was immediately rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. Sadly, despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries around 7 pm on April 22, as confirmed by a senior police official from the Tambaram commissionerate who spoke on condition of anonymity. No suicide note has been discovered thus far.
Reports indicate that the deceased woman, a student pursuing an engineering course, had tied the knot with a 22-year-old Dalit man in October 2023. However, their inter-caste marriage was vehemently opposed by her family, who belonged to the Vanniyar community, categorized as an Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste.
Tragedy struck on February 25 when the woman’s elder brother, accompanied by four accomplices, allegedly murdered her husband in Pallikaranai. All five individuals involved in the crime have since been apprehended and charged under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as confirmed by law enforcement authorities.
Prior to her untimely demise, the woman had reportedly demanded stringent action against other members of her family, including her parents, whom she believed had played a role in instigating the murder. The senior police officer revealed plans to record statements from the parents of the couple, noting the woman’s assertion that her brother may have been influenced by her parents’ directives.
The tragic incident has once again spotlighted the deep-seated societal issues surrounding inter-caste marriages in India, highlighting the urgent need for social reform and concerted efforts to combat caste-based discrimination and violence.
