By TNM Staff
A fact-finding report on the murder of a 21-year-old Dalit woman by her husband’s family in Vithalapura village of Karnataka’s Koppal district found that she was subjected to ‘untouchability’ in her marital home. The victim was allegedly made to live in a shed outside the house, sleeping on muddy ground. She was also given another hut in which to cook, and her in-laws refused to eat what she cooked.
In the wake of the murder, Dalit residents of Vithalapura village, along with activists, have decided to take out a march against untouchability on September 19.
Mariyamma (21) was allegedly brutally assaulted and poisoned by her in-laws on August 27. Mariyamma, who is a Madiga (Scheduled Caste), married Hanumayya, who belongs to the Naika community (Scheduled Tribe) in April 2023. They had a registered marriage in Gangavathi after being in a relationship for two years.
According to a fact-finding report by Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation and All India Central Council of Trade Unions, things were fine for about four months. Hanumayya’s family had initially agreed to the couple’s marriage, but soon, they began ill-treating her because of her caste.
“She was supposed to be their daughter-in-law and they should have treated her with love. Instead, they treated her like an animal,” said Vijay, a member of the CPI(ML) Liberation in Koppal district.
This story was originally published in thenewsminute.com. Read the full story here.