Coalition of like-minded Progressive Organisations: Justice for the Victims of Dis-honour Killing in Hubbali

Dec 25, 2025

“Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians-of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. It is a difficult thing to achieve…The castes are anti-national. In the first place because they bring about separation in social life. They are anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste. But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a nation in reality. For fraternity can be a fact only when there is a nation. Without fraternity equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint.” 

-Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

 

On 21st December, Smt Manya who was six months pregnant was killed by her own father and relatives. Her husband Shri Vivekananda and his parents were also attacked and seriously injured. The reason for this cold-blooded horror is the inter-caste marriage between Smt. Vanya with Shri Vivekanada, who is Dalit. On 26th December, 2025 progressive, Dalit, Women and left organizations will hold a protest and candle-light vigil against the gruesome murder of Smt. Manya(who was pregnant at the time) and the criminal attack on Shri Vivekananda and his parents. 

 

This incident is a chilling and brutal reminder that caste continues to govern and control the lives of people in this country. There is nothing honourable about these so-called “honour killings”, which are nothing but cold-blooded murders at its worst. At their core, these killings are instruments of caste and patriarchy, aimed at controlling women’s bodies and decisions in order to enforce endogamy and preserve the caste order through fear and terror. For a father to take the life of his own daughter lays bare the extreme brutality and inhumanity inherent in the caste system. Such acts strike at the very heart of the Constitution and stand in direct violation of its most basic values of equality, liberty, and fraternity. 

 

In Lata Singh v. State of U.P. [AIR 2006 SC 2522], the Supreme Court held that there is nothing honourable about so-called “honour killings,” describing them as barbaric and shameful acts of murder that deserve strict punishment. The Court also observed that the caste system is a curse on the nation and emphasised that inter-caste marriages are in the national interest, as they help dismantle caste divisions and promote unity.

 

In Shakti Vahini v. Union of India [(2018) 7 SCC 192], the Supreme Court held that so-called “honour killings” destroy individual liberty and freedom of choice. The Court issued directions to governments to take preventive, remedial, and punitive measures, and also recommended the enactment of a specific law to address dis-honour killings. 

 

Reports state that after marriage, the couple fearing for their lives had moved to Haveri and had returned to their village near Belagali, Hubballi when the gruesome incident happened. Questions remain as to why they did not have protection and indeed as to how such a gruesome act could take place. It is not sufficient to act only after such incidents. Immediate steps must be taken to prevent these crimes and for the complete annihilation of caste itself.

 

We demand that 

  1. Immediate and adequate compensation must be provided to the family of Smt. Manya and Shri Vivekananda 
  2. Complete protection must be extended to Shri Vivekananda and his family to ensure their safety, liberty, and right to live with dignity. 
  3. Shri Vivekananda must be provided with a government job 
  4. The Government must ensure a fair, prompt, and impartial investigation, and ensure that all perpetrators, including those who planned, abetted, or facilitated the crime, are prosecuted and punished. 
  5. The State Government must take immediate steps including Public Consultations to enact a comprehensive law to address dis-honour crimes, with provisions for prevention, victim protection, witness protection, remedial steps, and to affirm and safeguard the constitutional right to freedom of choice in marriage. 
  6. The Government must strictly follow the directions of the Supreme Court in Shakti Vahini v. Union of India including preventive, remedial and punitive measures. 
  7. The State must undertake sensitisation and awareness programmes for police, local authorities, and the public to combat caste-based violence and patriarchal norms, and to promote constitutional values of equality, liberty, and fraternity. 
  8. The Government must take up a program for the complete annihilation of caste in order to ensure to all people the promise of the Constitution of equality, liberty and fraternity.

 

Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvaada) , Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Samyojaka), DSS Okkuta, Thamate Media, AISA, Slum Janandolana Karnataka, Slum Janara Sanghatane Karnataka, Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane, Bayalu Balaga, AICCTU, AIMSS, AIPWA, NFIW, Bahutva Karnataka, Naveddu Nilladiddare, SFI, DHS, Samajika Nyayakkaagi Parishishta Jaati haagu Paraishishta Pangadgala Okkuta, Gamana Mahila Samuha, PUCL – Karnataka, Karnataka Janashakti, Karnataka Vidyarthi Sanghatane, All India Save Education Committee