Dalit organisations demand special law against honour killing

Following the honour killing at Inam Veerapur in Hubballi taluk in which a pregnant woman, Manya Doddamani, lost her life, Vividha Dalita Sangha Samsthegala Mahamandala (a federation of various dalit organizations) has urged the State government to promulgate a special law to address honour killing.

Addressing a press conference along with office-bearers of various Dalit organizations in Hubballi on Tuesday, Gurunath Ullakashi of Samata Sena Karnataka said that Constitutional rights are being violated as existing legal provisions have failed to stop honour killing.

He said that since 2011, several honour killing cases have been reported in the State in which a majority of the victims have been women.

Mr. Ullakashi said that that officials of the Social Welfare Department have failed to respond even after such an incident. None of the Social Welfare officers visited the hospital or contacted the affected family, an example of sheer institutional indifference, he pointed out.

He also criticised women’s welfare and human rights bodies for what he termed a lack of sustained intervention in such cases. Drawing comparisons with other recent incidents, he said that there is selective public sympathy and unequal official attention.

Stating that the organisations will continue their agitation if justice is delayed, Mr. Ullakashi urged the State government to enact a special law exclusively addressing honour killing.

He also sought rehabilitation measures for the victim’s family, including the allotment of 10 acres of land and a government job.

Office-bearers of various organisations Gurappa Chalawadi of Uttar Karnataka Chalawadi Mahasabha, Shakkana Doddamani of Madiga Mahasabha, Shatraiya Pola of Dora Mahasabha, Devanna Itagi of Muchigera Mahasabha, Manjunath Ullakashi, Hanumanth Talwar and Lohit Gavingatti and others condemned the incident in strong terms and demanded stringent punishment to all the accused.