A 23-year-old Dalit man was killed in a suspected honour killing in Tamil Nadu, prompting renewed calls from anti-caste activists for a separate law to tackle such crimes.
Praveen Kumar, a Scheduled Caste resident of Kelambakkam in Chengalpattu district near Chennai, was attacked with machetes on the night of August 16, according to police and local reports. He died from his injuries on August 20 while undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai.
Police identified four suspects — Manikandan, Ezhumalai, Nantheesh and Gautham — and arrested them before remanding them in judicial custody. Investigators are also looking for a fifth suspect who remains at large.
Police and local residents said Praveen had been in a relationship with Ashwathi, the daughter of Ezhumalai, one of the accused. Multiple media reports have identified Ezhumalai as a member of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
A neighbour, Sathish Kumar, told The News Minute that Praveen and Ezhumalai were both from the Adi Dravidar community but said Praveen’s family was considerably poorer. He also alleged that Praveen had previously been threatened with a knife by one of Ashwathi’s relatives and that Ezhumalai and others had tied him up and assaulted him about six months ago.
According to reports, Manikandan had become acquainted with Praveen about three months before the killing. On August 16, Praveen reportedly went to meet him before allegedly being taken away in a car and attacked at another location.
The case has renewed attention on alleged honour killings in Tamil Nadu. Activists said at least 59 such killings had been recorded in the state by March 2026.
Anti-caste groups have argued that India’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act does not adequately address honour killings because caste may intersect with other factors such as class, religion and gender.
They have also pointed out that violence can occur within Dalit communities, potentially limiting the applicability of the law. Dalits who are Christian or Muslim are also not covered by the Scheduled Caste protections under the Act.
Activist and author Shalin Maria Lawrence said Praveen’s death illustrated the need to examine honour killings through the combined effects of caste, class and patriarchy.
She said differences in economic and social status could exist even within the same caste community, and that family notions of honour could be used to control relationships and marriage.
Tamil Nadu has taken steps towards considering a dedicated legal framework. In October 2025, the state government established the KN Basha Commission to recommend measures to prevent honour killings and said it would consider legislation based on its findings.
In 2022, Evidence founder Kathir submitted a draft law to then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The proposed Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour Act sought to cover crimes linked to caste, religion, gender, class, age, sexual orientation and other social factors, while providing for compensation and rehabilitation.
Kathir and honour-killing survivor and activist Kowsalya submitted the draft legislation and data on previous cases to the KN Basha Commission in March 2026.
Families of victims appeared before the commission in June and urged the state government to enact a special law. The commission heard 28 cases, according to reports.
The Madras High Court, while considering a bail petition in an honour-killing case in June, described such killings as an extreme manifestation of casteism and a shameful act.
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