In yet another case of caste-dynamic wrecking havoc in the lives of lovers, Ramanidevi, a 19-year-old girl who was in love with her college-mate Maruthanayagam, who was from a different caste, was put to death by her grandfather for daring to do so. Veerasamy slit her throat and dragged the body out of the house on Tuesday.
Last month, Ramanidevi had eloped with her lover, following which the family filed a police complaint. The police had then traced her and produced her before the Kattumannarkoil court, which handed her over to her family.
According to The New Indian Express, the Chozadharam police said, “Though her parents and relatives tried to convince her to marry someone from her own caste, Ramanidevi was firm on her decision of marrying only Maruthanayagam. Ramanidevi’s parents even restricted her from using the mobile phone”.
The incident took place when her parents were in the garden and Veerasamy saw her talking on the mobile phone to her lover, which left him fuming and led to the incident. The villagers informed the Chozadharam police station.
Veersamy surrendered to the police. Based on a complaint from the Village Administrative Officer, the police personnel arrested him.
“Veerasamy is a nattamai (Village elder) in the areas. He used to solve the villagers problems. His daughter not obeying his words could have disturbed him, leading to the murder,” a local resident told the paper.