Protesters seek law to prevent ‘honour’ crimes

Progressive, Dalit, women’s and left organisations on Friday held a protest and candlelight vigil condemning the murder of Manya, a six-month pregnant woman in Hubballi. She was killed allegedly by her own father and relatives for marrying outside her caste. Vivekananda, Manya’s Dalit husband, and his parents were also attacked and seriously injured. The organisations put forth a series of demands, including immediate and adequate compensation for the families of Vivekananda, complete protection to ensure Vivekananda and his family can live with dignity, and a government job for him. They also demanded a fair, prompt and impartial investigation to punish all those involved, including conspirators. Further, they urged the State government to enact a comprehensive law against ‘dishonour’ crimes through public consultations, strictly implement the Supreme Court guidelines in ‘Shakti Vahini vs Union of India’, undertake widespread sensitisation programmes, and initiate concrete measures towards the complete annihilation of caste. The protesters described the crime as a chilling reminder of how caste and patriarchy continue to control personal choices, particularly those of women. They rejected the term ‘honour killing’, calling it a cover for cold-blooded murder. The protestors said that a father killing his own daughter exposes the extreme inhumanity of the caste system and directly violates the constitutional values of equality, liberty, and fraternity. According to reports, the couple had earlier moved to Haveri, fearing for their lives, but returned to their village near Belagali in Hubballi, where the attack took place. The protesters questioned why adequate protection was not provided despite clear threats and stressed that reactive action after such crimes was insufficient. Published - December 26, 2025 10:37 pm IST

Preview: ~272 words