ANUSUYA… she is a postgraduate. She belongs to a Scheduled Caste community at Udayarpalayam, a small hamlet in, Ariyalur district.

Subash… he too is a postgraduate. He was born into a Backward Caste community in Arunagiri village, Uthangarai, Krishnagiri district. Both Subash’s and Anusuya’s families had migrated to the industrial town of Tiruppur after failing to find employment in their native villages. Their residences in Tiruppur were close to each other.

Subash’s sister and Anusuya had become close friends. Subash, who liked Anusuya, expressed his feelings to her, and love blossomed between the two. Anusuya’s family, which was initially hesitant, may be due to fear, consented later. But Subash’s family refused to accept their relationship.

With no other way out, on March 27, 2023, in the presence of Anusuya’s family, they entered into an inter-caste self-respect marriage. After the wedding, both of them worked in private companies in Tirupattur, Vellore, and started their married life there. 

Just 20 days after their marriage, Subash’s grandmother—Kannammal, mother of Subash’s father Dhandapani—invited the couple home for the dinner. Subash hesitated, but his grandmother assuringly said she had reconciled things with his father Dhandapani. Unable to refuse her affectionate request, Subash took his beloved Anusuya with him to Kannammal’s house at Arunagiri on April 14. Their hearts were joyful, thinking they were going to meet his parents.

After having dinner served by the grandmother, both lay down to sleep near her. At dawn, Subash’s father, Dhandapani—a caste fanatic—attacked and hacked Subash with a billhook, killing him. “Oh sinner, what are you doing?” cried Kannammal, rushing in to stop him. But in front of caste, neither son nor mother matters. In terrible cruelty, Dhandapani hacked and killed his own mother who tried to intervene. Anusuya also intervened to stop Dhandapani to save the other two.

Having killed two people, he hurled the billhook at Anusuya to make her the third sacrifice to caste. Not knowing whether her husband or grandmother were alive or dead, Anusuya tried to stop the blow with her bare hands. When blows were aimed at her neck, her fingers were cut. Her body was slashed all over. Dhandapani assumed she had also died as she fell unconscious and he left the place.

A little later, Anusuya regained consciousness. She called out, “Get up Subash! Get up Subash!” But how can a lifeless body respond to the call of his beloved wife? With no idea what else to do, she dragged herself slowly and hid at the crematorium nearby with fear. Some people, moved by humanity, helped her and admitted her to Salem Government Hospital. After nine surgeries, Anusuya survived.

A case was registered at Uthangarai Police Station (Crime No. 205/2023) under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(v), etc. The trial was conducted in the Krishnagiri District Principal Sessions Court.

When Anusuya was suffering with severe injuries, CPI(M) Politburo Member K Balakrishnan, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front leaders K Samuelraj, G Anandan, P Selvan, E Mohana, K Swaminathan, leaders of AIDWA including Valentina and Rani, leaders of DYFI and many other organisations visited her. It was not a one-day condolence visit. It became a continued bond that lasts till today. Not only with Anusuya — the Untouchability Eradication Front stands with every victim in this way.

The leaders and cadres of Salem district CPI(M), TNUEF, and the All India Insurance insurance Employees Association kept going to the hospital, stood by her, consoled her, and provided emotional help. They supported her medical and educational needs. Throughout the long legal process, CPI(M) and the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front accompanied her every moment.

Chennai comrades helped with her travel for court hearings. Krishnagiri district party comrades and lawyers played important roles. The efforts taken by the state leadership of the TNUEF were significant. Through these actions, she encountered a different kind of humanity from what she had known. Their association shared her new insights regarding caste. She realised deeply that such atrocities do not happen only to her but to many in society, and that only organised movements can effectively resist this evil — and that such a movement stands with her, and she must stand with it. This is what truly strengthened her.

Today, Anusuya is not just a victim who lost her partner in a caste honour killing. Despite her severe physical injuries and despite losing her beloved husband, she did not shut herself inside her home. Over the past two years, she has gone in person to all places in Tamil Nadu where caste honour killings have taken place, giving courage and confidence to young women who have lost their partners. During this time, she completed her B.Ed degree. We hesitated, wondering how she could write exams with so many surgical injuries in her hands. But she wrote the exams and passed with good marks.

After two years and two months of legal battle, the case was won. No case related to caste honour killing has ever received such a sentence. The accused, Dhandapani, was awarded three life sentences, 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, and a fine of ₹8,000. The district administration was ordered to pay Rs 2.5 lakh compensation to the severely injured Anusuya for her medical expenses. 

This is a historic judgment. It is a massive blow to caste supremacists in Tamil Nadu. The role of lawyers, the district leadership of CPI(M) and TNUEF deserves special mention here. 

When she heard the verdict, Anusuya spoke through tears, moving all of us: "I never knew that the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front and the CPI(M) would help a couple like us so much. Had I known earlier, Subash and myself would have been living happily today.” She said this with tears in an interview to the media. “But the movement I belong to now teaches me: I will fight to protect couples who choose inter-caste marriages. I will fight until a special law to prevent caste honour killings is enacted.”

These words show that today, Anusuya is a fighter. She has been elected as a state committee member of TNUEF in the recently held elections at Mayiladuthurai.