In Telangana’s Mancherial district, a Dalit youth’s house was set on fire after he married a woman from a Backward Class, police said. The couple, Surender and Anjali, survived the attack, but the incident has sparked outrage in the area. Police identified the accused as Anjali’s father Cheruku Laxman and her brothers Anji and Sampath.
According to officials, the accused poured kerosene on Surender’s house and set it ablaze on Saturday. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. Surender’s parents filed a complaint, and cases have been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with other provisions of law. “We have arrested all three accused and the investigation is ongoing,” a police officer said.
Police sources said the violence was triggered after Anjali and Surender married despite strong objections from her family. The family reportedly believed the inter-caste marriage brought dishonour to them. Prior to the attack, the couple had sought police help, and authorities had conducted counselling sessions to make the family understand that the marriage was lawful and consensual.
The attack involved axes and sticks, and the house was burnt, causing property damage estimated at Rs 5 lakh. “The couple is safe, but this is a serious case of caste-based violence,” the officer added.
