Adivasis protest honour killing

 S. Chellappa interacting with Akhila's family  members 

The incident of honour killing that took place in Neredigonda town on June 24 has gone against the interest of the Mathura community. 

An inquiry was held into the incident by the members and chairman S. Chellappa of a commission.

The deceased Akhila Chowhan’s father and mother had confessed to the crime they committed before the police following their surrender. They were remanded to the judicial custody.   

The commission was set up to look into the demand of Mathuras (also known as Khiathi Lambdas or Labaan) to include them into Scheduled tribes. Adivasi leaders staged a protest against the Chellappa commission and raised slogans asking members of ‘Chellappa Commission’ to go away. They expressed grave concern over the killing of the girl for having an affair with an Adivasis boy.

Kodapa Ganesh, District general secretary of Thudum Debba (Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samiti) said once again it has shown that the Mathuras had their own set of traditions and customs. 

There was no cultural similarity between Adivasis and Mathuras. They considered Adivasis as a lower community. He said many more incidents like ‘honour killing’ and frightening Adivasis will take place if the Mathuras were included into ST’s list.
          

The Adivasis demanded that Chellappa commission should not include the Mathuras into ST's list. A team of Adivasis submitted a memorandum to the Chellappa, Chairman of the commission, during their inquiry into the incident at Neredigonda town on June 26.

Chellappa said the commission came to know that there was an incident of honour killing and they were conducting an inquiry to find out the truth and cross check if it was an honour killing.

He said the incident took place when they were studying the traditions, customs of the Mathuras who along with another community Valmiki Boya have been agitating demanding the state government to include them in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Chellappa and commission members visited the Akhias’ house and interacted with Akhila’s two younger sisters and two younger brothers and asked them not to stop their education in the wake of incident. Chellappa and members of commission also had interaction with the Akhila’s lover Mahender in closed door.

Akhila’s lover Arka Mahender said he had tried his best to convince her parents but were adamant and killed an innocent girl. He said her parents were responsible for the death of Akhila.

He said, Akhila’s family members, parents and community people may take revenge with by developing a grudge against him with the incident for which he was not responsible and added that there was a threat to his life from latter.

Akhila’s grandmother Champawathi claimed that their community was Chowhan Rajput, which was an upper caste. Commission members H.K Nagu, ITDA,Utnoor project officer  R.V Karnan were present.

The Chellappa commission members recently visited the Kinwat area in bordering Maharashtra and studied the customers and traditions of Mathuras living there.

A source said that leaders of Mathura community stated in their representations submitted in the past to the Chellappa commission that their community was flexible and even allow marriages of their children with girls and boys of other community but the honour killing incident was contracting their claims.