The death of a young college student in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district has triggered serious allegations of an honour killing, even as the police say early findings point towards suicide and that the final cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem report.
The woman, identified as Sivamathi, was 19 years old and studying in her second year of college. She belonged to an upper-caste family and was in a relationship with Ananthakrishnan, a Dalit man who works with a mobile phone company. Sivamathi was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Pettaipuli area of Tirunelveli.
In his complaint, Ananthakrishnan alleged that Sivamathi’s family strongly opposed their inter-caste relationship and plans to marry. He said the couple had decided to get married on February 6 and had already started the process of obtaining a marriage certificate. According to him, the family’s opposition was entirely based on caste.
He further alleged that Sivamathi was threatened by her maternal uncle, who warned her that she would be killed if she went ahead with the marriage. Ananthakrishnan also claimed that her family had taken away her mobile phone to cut off contact between them and that Sivamathi had earlier told him about being assaulted and repeatedly threatened at home.
Police officials said that while these allegations are serious, initial inquiry and evidence from the spot suggest that Sivamathi may have died by suicide. A senior police officer said, “We will confirm everything only after the post-mortem report. All angles are being investigated.” Statements from Sivamathi’s family members, friends and her fiancé are currently being recorded.
Given the sensitivity of the case and the caste-related allegations, the investigation has been transferred to an Assistant Commissioner of Police. Officers said that if evidence emerges showing that Sivamathi was driven to take her life due to threats, pressure or harassment, her family members could be booked for abetment of suicide.
The case has revived painful memories of earlier caste-related violence in southern Tamil Nadu. Many have drawn parallels with the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh, a Dalit software engineer who was hacked to death in July 2025 for being in an inter-caste relationship. That case had led to widespread protests and demands for a strong law to prevent honour killings.
