SC panel seeks ‘act’ against honour killing

A day after members of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (SC) met Kowsalya, widow of the dalit youth killed in Udumalpet, they sent their report on Thursday to its chairman with 12 recommendations, including speedy trial, an Act against honour killings and safety of Kowsalaya, the only eyewitness in the case.

The commission, in its five-page report, said the chargesheet in the Shankar murder case should be filed at the earliest, and police should arrest Kowsalaya's mother Annalakshmi and maternal uncle Pandidurai. The panel members have also recommended that Shankar's classmate Prasanna, who helped the assailants identify the pair, should also be arrested.

Shankar, 21, a dalit engineering student, was brutally murdered in front of his wife Kowsalya, who belongs to an upper caste, in a clear case of honour killing. Condemning the incident, the commission has urged its chairman to look into the repeated demands for an Act against honour killings in the country.

"Keeping in view the petitions received from various organisations and political parties, it has been recommended that the district administration shall take note of such petitions and send it to Delhi hereafter. The commission shall take a decision accordingly," a member of the SC commission told TOI.

The commission has also sought a court trial in the case. "We have recommended experienced lawyers for trial, besides police security for Kowsalya, the only eyewitness in the case, until the court delivers judgement in the case," the panel member said.

The commission has taken offence to the lathicharge to disperse Shankar's relatives on Monday night, when they refused to receive his body from police. "An enquiry shall be conducted on this (lathicharge) incident," the report said.

As far as Kowsalya is concerned, the commission has asked to provide her with best treatment facility. "She is currently undergoing treatment in a government hospital, and the environment there is not favourable for her conditions. So, we have recommended to provide her with the best treatment facility," the panel member said. 

The commission has also sought to allow three of Shankar's cousins - Mariathal, Kaleeshwari and Ponnuthai - to be with Kowsalya to provide her moral support. "Kowsalya shall also be provided with the widow pension of 4,500 as per the law and she shall also be given opportunities to pursue higher education," the report further said.

As for Shankar's family, the commission suggested that the state government should ensure the family's safety and survival. "Shankar's brothers Vignesh and Yuvaraj shall be provided with job opportunities as Shankar's father is a daily-wage labourer," it said.

The National Commission for Scheduled Caste recommends speedy trial and police security for Kowsalaya, the only eyewitness in the case. It said experienced lawyers should be roped in for trial.

The commission has taken offence to the lathicharge to disperse Shankar's relatives on Monday night, when they refused to receive his body from police. It also suggested that the state government should ensure the family's safety and survival.

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