CHENNAI: In a suspected case of caste killing, a 24-year-old man, Ramachandran, was hacked to death by his father-in-law near Nilakottai in Dindigul district on Sunday.Dindigul superintendent of police A Pradeep said Chandran, father of Ramachandran’s wife Aarthi, has been arrested and police were investigating if others were involved. Aarthi said, “They have arrested only my father. My family came together and did this.”The couple had married some three months ago in the face of opposition from her family. “On the morning of our marriage, my brother threatened to kill both of us. My father came twice to our house and warned that he would kill my husband. On Sunday, my husband left home at 4.10pm, and by 4.30pm he was dead,” said Aarthi. Chandran attacked Ramachandran when he was on his way for milk collection, police said.

Chandran was later arrested, and a case of murder was registered.Ramachandran of Ramanayakkanpatti near Batlagundu fell in love with Aarthi while working in Ganapathypatti village three years ago. The two married earlier this year and lived together in Dindigul for a month before moving to his native place, where Aarthi’s father continued to issue threats.V Viswabalan of Communist Party of India, who held a protest along with Aarthi, said only the father was arrested though Aarthi had named others, including her mother, brother and uncles. “This is a case of caste killing that should never happen anywhere. His parents are daily wage workers. Govt should provide Rs 50 lakh compensation and a job for Aarthi,” Viswabalan said, demanding a special law against caste killings.