'Janani was abused, assaulted and burnt alive': NGO's report on TN caste killing

After months of arguments over the young girl's relationship with a Dalit man, her mother allegedly burnt her alive on November 19.

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A fact-finding team led by Evidence, an anti-caste NGO, to investigate the killing of 17-year-old Janani in Nagapattinam last week has revealed that her murder was carefully planned and allegedly carried out by her mother. After months of arguments over the young girl's relationship with a Dalit man, her mother allegedly burnt her alive on November 19.

According to a report published by the NGO, 17-year-old Janani, belonging to the Viswa Karma caste which is categorised as Backward Class, had been in love with a Dalit man named Rajkumar from her village Vazhmangalam in Nagapattinam district for two years. After her 18th birthday on November 24, she planned to leave her residence and marry the Dalit youth.

However, her parents who are caste Hindus opposed the relationship from the very beginning. Evidence spoke to Janani's sister Janaki and Rajkumar to paint a picture of how caste played a major role in the young woman's death. According to Janaki, her mother Umamaheshwari allegedly assaulted, abused and starved Janani as a punishment for the relationship.

Her fear, according to the report, was that people of her community would ostracise the family if Janani married a Dalit man. Fearing further backlash from the family, Rajkumar allegedly attempted to put an end to the relationship but Janani persisted and made it clear that she wanted this relationship to continue.

Attempts were made to marry Janani off to a relative but her family was forced to stall because she was a minor. Janani's threats that she would leave the house upon becoming a major, however, is what allegedly pushed Umamaheshwari to kill her.

"On November 19 (five days before Janani's 18th birthday), Umamaheswari went out to buy kerosene without telling anyone. At 4.30 am in the morning, as she poured the kerosene over Janani, the young girl got up and begged her not to...But she set Janani on fire. She then poured kerosene and immolated herself," alleges the report.

It further absolves Janani's father and brother who were sleeping outside of any blame for the crime.

Police also had confirmed that Rajkumar's caste had been a source of conflict between mother and daughter.

A case has been registered in the Thittacheri Police Station. The girl and her mother had been rushed to the Nagapattinam government hospital for treatment. Janani succumbed to her wounds but her mother is still battling for life with 90% burns. As of now, police have registered an FIR with section 302 (Punishment for murder) against the mother.

Also read: TN woman sets daughter on fire allegedly over relationship with Dalit youth