Newly-wed couple attacked in public in Tamil Nadu, Dalit husband killed

Tirupur: A young couple, who recently married after being in love, faced a dangerous onslaught from unidentified miscreants at Udumalpet near here on Sunday with the youth brutally murdered and his wife attacked by the gang. Police do not rule out the possibility of honour killing as the two belong to different communities - the man being a Dalit.

According to police, Shankar, 22, a resident of Komaralingam in Madathukulam taluk of Tirupur district, fell in love with Kausalya, 19, of Palani in Dindigul district. The youth was studying final year BE at a private college in Palani and she was a junior at the college.

Shankar married her eight months ago against the wishes of the girl’s parents and the couple was living at Komaralingam. Meanwhile, she discontinued her studies and joined a private company near Uduamlpet, while the youth was continuing his studies.

The couple came to Udumalpet central bus stand on Sunday and as they were leaving the terminus, suddenly, a gang, who came to the spot attacked the couple with sickle.

They fled the spot immediately, leaving the crowd, which had gathered there, shell-shocked by the open dastardly attack. The couple was rescued with severe cut injuries and rushed to Udumalpet government hospital. They were the referred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment. However, Shankar succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. The youth’s wife, being treated at the hospital, is in a critical condition. Police have launched a hunt to nab the murderers.