Members of the Pragatipara Sanghatanegala Okkuta staging a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
A coalition of progressive organisations staged a protest march in Kalaburagi on September 3 condemning the recent honour killing of an 18-year-old girl at Melakunda (B) village in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. The activists demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the government to enact a special law to prevent such crimes.
The protesters, under the banner of the Forum of Progressive Organisations, marched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they staged a demonstration before submitting a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
According to the memorandum, Shankar Kollur allegedly killed his daughter Kavita after she expressed a wish to marry a youth from another community. With the help of his relatives Sharanu and Dattu, he is said to have burnt her body.
The memorandum pointed out that the family attempted to spread the false claim that Kavita had died by suicide, but police registered a case suo motu and arrested the accused.
“Caste arrogance has become so brutal that it consumes even one’s own children,” the organisations stated, demanding the police and administration to ensure appropriate punishment to the culprits.
Lavitra, State president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), said the murder was not just a family crime but a social crime against constitutional values. “Such incidents expose how casteist attitudes continue to poison our society. The guilty must face the harshest punishment,” he said.
K. Neela, district secretary of the CPI(M), said it was time the State legislated a separate law to prevent honour killings. “Without deterrent measures, these inhuman acts will recur,” she said.
Prabhu Khanapure, treasurer of Pragna Kanoonu Salaha Samithi, stressed the need for a democratic atmosphere in families. “Youngsters must be free to choose their life partners. The government should promote awareness programmes that encourage democratic values within households,” he said.
The memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner carried a six-point charter of demands, including arresting all those involved in the Melakunda (B) case; bringing an ‘honour killing prevention law’; protecting youth in inter-caste and inter-community marriages; and intensifying efforts to eradicate caste discrimination.
Published – September 04, 2025 10:42 am IST
