Trichy: In a gruesome case of honour killing, a woman burnt her 17-year-old daughter alive on Tuesday night to stop her from marrying her dalit boyfriend on Monday when she would have turned 18. She died at the government hospital in Nagappattinam while her mother, who also set herself afire, is undergoing treatment with 80% injuries.

The deceased has been identified as K Janani, a native of Vazhmangalam village in Nagapattinam district and daughter of Kannan and Uma Maheswari. The girl who studied plus 1 at a government school was determined to marry the 22-year-old youth hailing from the same area. Thittacheri police initially booked Uma Maheswari, 48, under section 307 which was altered to murder following the girl’s dying declaration confirming the crime.

The girl had fallen in love with Rajkumar, a labourer, and they had been waiting for over a year to get married as she was a minor. Her parents opposed her relationship citing the youth’s caste, but the relationship continued. Finally, her parents decided to marry her off. On coming to know about the marriage plan, Rajkumar lodged Janani at a hostel in Mayiladuthurai. Another time, he took her to his relative's house at Thirunallaru in Karaikal and put her up there with the help of an advocate. As the girl was to turn major on November 24, they planned to get married the next day.

Uma Maheswari got wind of the couple's plans and asked her daughter to sever the relationship but the arguments ended in a scuffle on Monday night at their home. Around 4.30 am on Tuesday, she poured kerosene on Janani when she was sleeping and set her afire before pouring the inflammable liquid on herself and lighting the match. Hearing their screams, neighbours rushed both of them to Nagapattinam government hospital where Uma Maheswari is under treatment. The couple’s younger son was sleeping outside and Kannan was away for work when the incident took place.

Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People's Watch, said the incident was a clear case of honour killing. “This should be stopped by the new generation of youths who are armed with their knowledge of their rights and responsibility. A programme for girl's rights should be introduced in schools by the school education department. We should protect youths who fall in love,” he further stated.

