Caste conflicts have been rearing its ugly head in Telangana for the last few days, drawing national attention. After the honour-killing case in which a dalit youth, Pranay Kumar, was murdered in front of his pregnant wife in Nalgonda district, came another similar incident in Hyderabad. A newly-wed couple was attacked with a machete by the girl's father, prompting outrage from citizens.
In the Nalgonda incident, too, the youth was killed allegedly at the behest of the girl's father. Pranay belonged to a scheduled caste, while his wife Amrita belonged to an upper caste.
Both the incidents have sent shock waves across the state even as questions are being raised as to whether the attacker in Hyderabad had taken inspiration from the previous case; there also, the father is the main accused.
Madhavi, who belongs to a backward caste, and Sandeep, from an SC community, married a few days ago. According to local police officials, Manohar, the girl's father, was in an inebriated state when he forced his daughter and son-in-law to meet him at a shopping area in the city. As soon as he spotted them, he approached a coconut vendor, stole a machete and attacked his daughter, severely injuring her. Sandeep also sustained minor injuries.
According to the latest medical bulletin issued by Yashoda Hospital, where Madhavi is admitted, she continues to be on ventilator support due to severe blood loss. The doctors also informed that, with great difficulty, they could save her arm, which was deeply cut in the attack.
Talking to the media, Sandeep's mother said that Madhavi’s father had come to her house the previous day, and assured them that he was not as cruel as Maruti Rao (the main accused in the Nalgonda case).
Sandeep works in a local restaurant as a waiter. Manohar does odd jobs to earn a living, according to the police officials.
Although Manohar was arrested from a relative's house, a new debate has begun on whether it was a caste-based attack or not. Police said the attack had nothing to do with caste, and the attacker was angry with his daughter for going against him and marrying without his knowledge.
“This attack has nothing to do with the boy’s caste. This man cannot even feed himself if he does not work for a day. His son-in-law’s financial conditions are much better. He was very drunk and angry with his daughter when he committed the crime,” informed Venkateshwar Rao, SHO, SR Nagar Police Station.
According to the investigating officials, the accused was an alcoholic who created nuisance regularly at home. According to him, he was enraged that his wife and son also supported his daughter in her marriage to Sandeep.
However, not everyone seems to be convinced with the motive revealed by the police.
“It is an attack on a lower caste. He [Manohar] was dead against his daughter marrying a lower caste guy. Otherwise, what is the reason for him to commit such a crime,” said Raju, who is from the same colony in Borabanda where Manohar resides. He, along with a few others from their colony, was seen outside the Yashoda hospital.
Meanwhile, the two incidents have moved the civil society, which has been voicing its concerns online and offline. Rallies and candlelight marches were held in some parts of the city, while many expressed disgust and helplessness on caste fanaticism through their posts on social media.
