New Delhi (Sputnik): In the latest incidence of what can be described as "honour killing", a girl who allegedly eloped with her lover from a different caste was murdered in cold blood by her family, while her ashes and bones were dispersed to hide the evidence, according to media reports.
The 22-year-old deceased woman, identified as Anuradha by the police, was from Kalamadugu in Mancherial district, located in the southern state of Telangana.
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A few weeks ago, Anuradha had allegedly eloped to marry her lover Ayyori Laxman, who came from the same village.
Anuradha's family alleged forced her to return home and hatched a conspiracy to murder her, police told the media.
#Telangana: According to V Satyanarayana, Commissioner of Police, Ramagundam Commissionerate, P Anuradha, a resident of Mancherial district was beaten and later burnt alive by her parents and relatives for marrying a man from another caste. Case registered. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/IKYvxDJWfg
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2018
Netizens have put out some harsh reactions on Twitter, blaming such incidences on the caste system in India.
Let's call it what it really is, 'Caste Killing', and there is no honor in it.
— The Emi Rants (@Emmani09) December 24, 2018
And the killers must have been chanting #JaiShriKrishna. Caste system in India is the worst kind of racism engrained in their religion.
— Incognito (@Malgy) December 24, 2018
And ours is a humanity and civilized society!
End of the day, religion is poor man's life?
— Suweid Ahmed (@Suweidahmed) December 24, 2018
Shame on them!
To the district police dept Too Shame on you
This country is divided by caste,creed and religion! When can we find true change among citizens of India? Unless it is been removed, we can’t find a real growth in this country! We need to find a person who can change India
— Jacob Paul Turlapati (@JTurlapati) December 24, 2018
As per the latest record of the national crime records bureau, in the year 2015 alone as many as 251 people were killed in the name of honour, which was an increase of a whopping 796% from 2014.
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In a key ruling in 2016, the Supreme Court of India deemed the practise of honour killing in India as barbaric.
A social activist, however, opines that such incidents cannot be blamed entirely on the caste system alone.
"Caste system is a reality which must come to an end but not all honour killings in India are because of caste disparities alone. Some are done due to political patronage. These incidents are an extension of the patriarchal mindset where the family considers the daughter as possession and these children lack the freedom to chose their partner," Annie Raja, a leading women's rights activist, told Sputnik.
