Udumalpet Dalit murder: Security a notch up for Dalit youth's family

Udumalpet: The district police has been asked to pay special attention in ensuring protection to the family of the Dalit student, Shankar, who was killed last week in Udumalpet, in another barbaric ‘honour killing’ episode. The instructions to the police force follow a threat letter allegedly sent to the family members of Shankar, sources here said.

The letter was handed over to Madathukulam inspector, who is the additional in-charge for Kumaralingam station in Udumalpet. The 23-year-old Dalit engineering student, Shankar, was murdered in Udumalpet bus stand last Sunday in full public view. His wife, Kausalya who belongs to upper caste Thevar community, was also attacked and is being treated at the Coimbatore Government hospital.

After the police nabbed seven accused in the case, including Kausalya’s father, the Dalit youth’s father received a threatening letter on Friday. However, the police said the address on the post could be fake. A police team has been deployed to nab the one who wrote the letter, policemen have been posted near the house of Shankar, the graveyard and near the bus stand here. Police has also provided a cop along with gun protection for Shankar’s family, sources added.