Dalit Man's Alleged Murder Sparks Caste Controversy in Tamil Nadu

On July 27, 2025, a 27-year-old Dalit man named Kavin Selva Ganesh was allegedly murdered in a suspected honor killing in Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Kavin had gone to meet his partner, a woman from the Thevar community, when her brother, S Surjeet, allegedly lured him away and killed him with a sickle.

The victim's father, Chandrashekar, claimed that Kavin and the woman had been in a relationship since their school days, and that the woman's family had forced Kavin to meet them, leading to his murder. However, the woman has publicly denied her family's involvement, stating that only she and Kavin knew about their relationship, and that her parents had no connection to the incident.

The woman's parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, who are both serving sub-inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Police, have been suspended. Her father has been arrested, while her mother is currently absconding.

The woman has maintained that she and Kavin were in love but had decided to wait before telling their families. She claims her brother Surjeet had spoken to Kavin and later informed her father, leading to the tragic incident.

The Tamil Nadu Director General of Police has transferred the case to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) for an impartial investigation. The case has sparked a caste-based controversy, with the victim's family demanding justice and the arrest of the partners.