In a tragic caste-based killing in Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, 27-year-old SC youth Kavin Selva Ganesh was brutally hacked to death by his girlfriend’s brother, Surjith, in an attack fueled by inter-caste tensions. Kavin, from the Pallar community, worked as a techie in Chennai after completing his engineering degree.
Kavin’s girlfriend, 26-year-old Subhashini, hailing from the Maravar community, and her family strongly opposed their relationship. On Sunday afternoon, Surjith, aged 21, attacked Kavin at KTC Nagar, leading to his death. Surjith surrendered and was arrested, while his parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari—both police sub-inspectors attached to the Tamil Nadu Special Police—were also named as accused and subsequently suspended.
Kavin’s family staged a protest on Tuesday, refusing to accept his body or government compensation, demanding the immediate arrest of all accused, including Subhashini’s parents. Kavin’s father, Chandrasekar, urged for justice rather than compensation and called for a full inquiry, including with Subhashini, to uncover the truth behind the relationship and the crime.
Dalit rights activists highlighted that Tamil Nadu has seen 58 caste killings since 2017 but only seven convictions, calling for a CBI investigation, especially given the involvement of police officers as accused in this case.
The incident exposes ongoing caste violence and raises questions about systemic issues within law enforcement and society.
