Ban the term 'honor killing': Human Rights Activist
What's the story
Kancha Ilaiah, who's a prominent Dalit, Human and Civil Rights activist, has asked for a ban on the term 'honor killing' in incidents where Dalits or lower caste people are killed for marrying someone of upper caste.
"Where's the honor in killing someone? Why are caste-based murders being labeled as honor killings? Dalits are killed for their caste, they're caste hatred killings," said Ilaiah.
What he said
Caste-based discrimination should be an election issue
Ilaiah visited the family of P Pranay Kumar, the Dalit man who was hacked to death in Telangana by his father-in-law, for marrying an upper caste woman. Ilaiah said that caste-based discrimination and killings should be election issues in Telangana.
Notably, hundreds of activists and members of human rights organizations have visited Pranay's home in Miryalaguda to console his pregnant wife Amrutha, and family.
Details
Further, security tightened outside Pranay's house after the killing
The security had to be tightened outside Pranay's house in Mutthireddykunta, as agitated members of Dalit organizations raised slogans calling to fight against the caste discrimination.
"A lower caste man marrying an upper caste woman is seen as a crime punishable by death. There can be no honor in killing a human being," S Venkatesh Naik of the Bahujan Left Front (BLF), said.
Details
Amrutha and in-laws request fast-track court for Pranay's case
Meanwhile, Amrutha Varshini and her in-laws today requested a fast-track court to be set up to take up the murder case of Pranay.
"If the accused are released on bail, they will use all their influence and money to try and derail the case. So we requested that the case should be taken up in a fast-track court," said P Balaswami, Pranay's father.
Backstory
Amrutha's father told police he was concerned about his 'prestige'
Amrutha's father, who is an influential real estate developer, was upset with his lone daughter marrying a Dalit.
Nalgonda SP, AV Ranganath, said he was obsessed with bringing his daughter home and thought killing Pranay would help his plan. During interrogation, he said he was more concerned about his 'prestige' than Amrutha's happiness.
Along with Rao, police have arrested six others, including the assailant.