Police provide protection to Shankar’s family

Coimbatore: More than three police personnel have been deployed at the house of dalit youth V Shankar, 22, who was brutally murdered in full public view at Udumalpet last week, after his father Velusamy received an anonymous threat letter a few days back. Shankar was murdered for marrying 19-year-old C Kowsalya, who hailed from a non-dalit community.Police would now provide security for Shankar's family round-the-clock.
In addition to the policemen deployed at the late Shankar's house, more than 100 policemen have been deployed in the village to avoid any untoward incident. "We have deployed a special sub-inspector cadre and seven police personnel on shift basis to protect Shankar's family," said a police officer.
In another development, CPM state executive committee member K Thangavel visited Kowsalya, widow of the late Shankar, at the trauma ward of Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. He said All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) has agreed to bear the expenses of her higher studies. After meeting Kowsalya, Thangavel told reporters that since she had witnessed the brutal murder of her husband, she was still in a state of shock and doctors were trying to help her with counselling. "Kowsalya has expressed her desire to study further and so theAll India Insurance Employees Association has come forward to help her.
Kowsalya has reportedly told Thangavel that her mother Annalakhsmi and maternal uncle were behind the murder and sought the maximum punishment for the two. "Police should arrest them immediately. They should also provide protection to Kowsalya," said Thangavel.
On March 13 around 3pm, Shankar was hacked to death in full public view at Udumalpet in Tirupur district by a five-member gang, who also assaulted his wife Kowsalya. The couple belonged to different communities and got married eight months ago. But the girl's parents did not accept the marriage and threatened Shankar's family and had tried tried to separate them by force.