Tirupati: Speakers stress on sustained education to end caste violence

Tirupati: The shocking incident of Usarapenta honour killing in which a young mother Hemavthi was done to death by her own parents and relatives for marrying a Dalit, stirred many political parties and leaders seeking concrete measures to end caste violence claiming innocent lives.

At a round-table conference convened by Congress senior leader Dr Chinta Mohan here on Wednesday, speakers stressed on sustained education against caste evil rearing its ugly head often, though caste discrimination overall declining.

Speakers felt that instead of depending on government alone individuals, institutions. social organisations, political parties and others must join together to end incidents like honour killings still going on in the country. Mohan said the members of the downtrodden community should stop looking on the government and strive to come up on their own through education to put an end to caste discrimination. Strongly condemning the Usarapenta honour killing, he said the response from the ruling party is disappointing with no responsible leaders including the Deputy Chief Minister from the district and other concerned did not find time to visit the bereaved family. Even the Home Minister, who is a woman failed to console the family, he averred.

Others including Mahila Congress leader K Pramilamma was critical of police role and feared that they may trying to dilute the case to avoid deterrent punishment to the guilty who require severe punishment for their inhuman and merciless act. TDP leader and former TUDA chairman G Narasimha Yadav, CPI leader Chinnam Penchalaiah observed that deterrent actions against those involved in such honour killing to some help deter other but the only way is sustained campaign against caste discrimination and promote social harmony.

Social activists NB Sudhakar Reddy, Purushottam Reddy, Venkatratnam and others were also spoke. It may be recalled that a young mother Hemavathi was waylaid and forcibly taken away by her parents before brutally killing her when she was returning home after hospital check-up of her baby, along with husband a Dalit Kesavulu, in Usarapenta village in Palamaner mandal, on Friday last.

The incident sent shock waves moving everyone including the government. Madanapalle Sub-Collector Keerthi Chekuri visited the bereaved family and informed the government support of Rs 5 lakh as deposit in the name of the male child and immediate outsourcing job to Kesavulu.