A 23-year-old Dalit man was brutally hacked to death in yet another ‘honour’ killing in Tamil Nadu. Praveen Kumar, who was attacked with machetes on the night of August 16, succumbed to his injuries on August 20 at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGH) in Chennai.
Praveen, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, was a resident of Kelambakkam in Chengalpattu district, very near to Chennai.
Kelambakkam T-19 police have identified the perpetrators as Manikandan, Ezhumalai, Nantheesh, and Gautham. All four were arrested and sent to judicial custody on August 17. A search is underway for a fifth accused who is absconding, police also said.
Ezhumalai is a member of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), according to multiple news reports, triggering further anger among anti-caste activists.
Allegedly, Praveen and Ezhumalai’s daughter, Ashwathi, had been romantically interested in each other.
Not the first instance of violence
According to Sathish Kumar, a neighbour, both Praveen and Ezhumalai are from the Scheduled Caste (SC) Adi Dravidar community. However, Praveen is from a far poorer family, Sathish added.
He further alleged that Praveen has been threatened multiple times.
“On a previous occasion, one of Ashwathi’s relatives came armed to Praveen's house. He shouted, threatened and even lunged at Praveen with a knife. Then he went away. There have been continuous threats.”
Around six months ago, Sathish alleged, Praveen was tied and beaten up by Ezhumalai and the other accused. At the time, Praveen’s family ultimately decided not to file a police report, Sathish said.
He added that Manikandan, one of the accused, had struck up a friendship with Praveen about three months back. On the day of the murder, Praveen allegedly went to meet Manikandan, after which he was abducted in a car and taken away to where he was attacked.
Special law against ‘honour’ killings
This is not the first ‘honour killing’ case in or near Chennai in the recent past. In March 2024, another victim, also named Praveen (22), was murdered for his marriage to Sharmilla, a Yadava (OBC) woman. Until March this year, at least 59 honour killings have been committed in Tamil Nadu.
Activists have repeatedly said that the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, or PoA Act, is insufficient to curb such killings.
They point out that caste supremacy is not the only motivator for such murders. Class, religion and gender identities are also motivators, among others.
Activists add that such ‘honour’ killings occur within Dalit communities too, making it impossible to invoke the PoA Act. Additionally, Christian and Muslim Dalits are not protected by the PoA Act, as they are not recognised as SC.
In Praveen and Ashwathi’s case, class was allegedly a motivator.
In June 2024, 27-year-old Azhagendran was beheaded in Virudhunagar district. Azhagendran was from the Arundhathiyar community. The woman he was in a relationship with is from the Pallar community. Both are categorised as Scheduled Caste (SC).
Another case that similarly demonstrates the need for a special law is the alleged honour killing of 22-year-old Devajessipriya, a Christian Dalit woman, in January 2026. She had married a man from the Vanniyar (MBC) caste. She was allegedly abused and murdered because of her Dalit identity, but the PoA Act could not be invoked.
Anti-caste activist and author Shalin Maria Lawrence told TNM, “When honour crimes happen within Dalit communities, the cause is all about economic conditions, that is, class. As a Dalit person who is fighting against honour crimes, I feel deeply ashamed. Those who are fighting against honour killing by other communities have committed the same crime.”
Shalin also pointed out the myth that such killings are committed only in rural areas.
She added, “The accused is not only rich. He has political power behind him. CM Vijay talks about social justice. What is he conveying to party members? Before he was elected, he didn’t speak against honour killings. Now he is CM, so what is his stand? Stalin didn't speak out, and Vijay doesn’t either.”
Shalin further said, “He doesn't want to hurt his vote bank, which is culturally inclined to arranged marriages. As soon as he came to power, Vijay could have done so much. But he is scared of the vote bank.”
Delays
After years of demands, in October 2025, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) constituted the KN Basha Commission to identify measures to prevent honour killings. At the time, the state government also promised to bring in special legislation based on the commission’s recommendations.
Previously, in 2022, rights organisation Evidence’s founder Kathir submitted a people’s draft bill against honour killings to then Chief Minister MK Stalin. The bill was drafted by the Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network — a coalition of anti-caste organisations headed by Evidence.
This draft bill is titled ‘The Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour Act 2022’. It aims to “provide justice, compensation and rehabilitation in crimes committed in the name of honour vis-à-vis caste, faith, age, gender, sexual orientation, language, class, race, status and tradition.”
A copy of this bill and extensive data on previous honour killings was also submitted to the Basha Commission in March this year by Kathir and honour killing survivor and activist Kowsalya.
In June, victims’ families deposed before the Commission and urged CM C Joseph Vijay to bring in a special state law against honour killings. A total of 28 cases were presented before the Commission.
Shalin added that the need for a special law has become even more urgent after Praveen Kumar’s case.
“The proposed honour killing bill focuses not just on punishment after a crime but also on preventing such murders. It provides for safe houses, financial assistance and police protection for couples who have reported threats.”
She added that had an effective protection mechanism been in place and acted upon promptly, Praveen’s murder could potentially have been prevented.