Honour killing: Govt asked to pay Rs 2.5 lakh compensation

Observing that it was the prime duty of the state to ensure safety of its citizens, Kerala High Court today directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh within two months to the parents of young man, who was hacked to death in 2001 by assailants, three months after his marriage to a Muslim girl.
Justice P Bhavadasan said the "state has to ensure the security of its citizens and it is one of the prime duties of the state and its officers and if due to the latches or default on the part of authorities, citizens suffer loss or damages, state was bound to compensate".

"Security was one of the main functions of the state", the court said allowing a petition filed by M Gopalan and M Pankajakshi, seeking compensation of the death of their son Bakakrishanan, who got married to Rasina, daughter of one Abu Backer Haji on June one, 2001.
The groom was killed by a hired goon wen Rasina was pregnant on September 18, 2001.
Holding that security was not confined to protection and fighting of crime, the court said it means creating an environment conducive to peaceful co-existence.
The court said there has been violation of fundamental rights of the petitioners in so far as there was no proper investigation initially. The petitioners had to approach the High Court five times for a proper investigation of the case, the court pointed out.

Considering the agony of the petitioners, the court ordered the compensation. Failing which, the state would have to pay an interest of 6 per cent and a cost of Rs 15,000.

After the young couple eloped, Rasina embraced Hinduism.
Her father and relatives conspired to do away with groom and took the help of a hired goonda, it was submitted.
At that time, communal disharmony was prevailing in the area. Rasina's uncle used to frequently visit Balakrishna's house and collected a photograph of Balakrishnan. Thereafter conspiracy was hatched and he was hacked to death, it was submitted.
CBI investigated the case and filed chargesheet against the father of the girl and some others. Trial proceedings are pending before court.