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In a suspected caste-killing, a 27-year-old Dalit man was hacked to death in broad daylight at KTC Nagar in Tirunelveli on Sunday, July 27 allegedly over a relationship with a woman from a dominant community. The deceased, identified as Kavin Selva Ganesh, was an IT professional from Arumugamangalam in Thoothukudi district.
According to The Hindu, Kavin had accompanied a relative to a private hospital in KTC Nagar when he was allegedly confronted by S Surjith (23), who then attacked him with sharp weapons following an altercation.
However, multiple news reports reveal a far deeper and disturbing motive: Kavin was in a long-standing relationship with Surjith’s sister, S Subhashini, a Siddha doctor. Their inter-caste relationship had drawn severe disapproval from her family. Kavin belonged to the Devendra Kula Vellalar community, which comes under Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu, while Subhashini's family is from the Maravar sub-caste of the Thevar community, falling under Most Backward Class (MBC).
According to Times of India, Kavin had informed his brother about threats from Subhashini’s family but had not pursued the matter legally. On Sunday afternoon, when Kavin visited Subhashini’s clinic with his grandfather, Surjith allegedly confronted him outside, hurled casteist slurs, and then chased him down before hacking him to death with a sickle.
The brutal murder occurred in front of Kavin’s mother, who filed a police complaint accusing Surjith and his parents, both serving sub-inspectors, of premeditated murder.
The FIR has officially named Subhashini’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, as the first and second accused, while Surjith has been listed as the third.
Police have taken both Saravanan and Krishnakumari into custody for interrogation. Heavy police deployment continues in the area to maintain law and order. The investigation is being overseen by ACP Suresh, who has been appointed as the lead investigator in the case.