AIDWA seeks compensation to kin of murdered Dalit youth

All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) today asked the Tamil Nadu government to provide a solatium of Rs 50 lakh to the family of Dalit youth, Shankar, who was murdered in front of his upper caste wife at Udumalpet in Tirupur district on March 13.
Briefing reporters here on the report of a Fact Finding team, AIDWA General Secretary P Suganthi said the government, besides strengthening the security provided to the bereaved family, should also appoint a special public prosecutor to handle the case.
"The state government should make serious efforts and complete the case at the earliest, since there is every possibility of the accused destroying the evidence if they came out on bail," Suganthi said.

The government should construct a house for the family of Shankar under green houses scheme, as recommended by the SC ST Commission, she said.
In order to encourage inter-caste marriages, it should also provide Rs 2 lakh to such couples, said Suganthi. She earlier met Shankar's widow Kausalya, who is undergoing treatment at the government hospital here.
The government should take care of her education and accommodation, Suganthi said, adding, if Kausalya was interested, AIDWA was willing to look after her.

Seeking action against police officials, who failed to protect the life of Shankar despite complaints about threats to the couple's life, she said the practice of "supporting honour killing in Tamil Nadu should be stopped."

She added that online users were continuously posting offensive messages against Dalits.
"They should be booked under Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the Cyber Cell should register cases against them," she said.
Suganthi also demanded that the Centre and state governments bring in a special legislation to prevent "such honour killings in the future."
Shankar and Kausalya were attacked by a gang with sickles in full public view on March 13 in nearby Tirupur district, resulting in the former's death.
Five persons have been arrested in connection with the case.