The southern Indian state of Karnataka is facing widespread protests and is now considering a new, stringent law against so-called "honour killings" following the brutal murder of a pregnant student. The victim, Manya Doddamani, was six months pregnant when she was allegedly beaten to death by family members for marrying a man from a Dalit community.
A Love Story Met with Brutal Violence
Manya Doddamani, 20, and Vivekananda Doddamani were both undergraduate students who fell in love a couple of years ago. Their relationship, conducted largely over Instagram due to village restrictions, was opposed by Manya's family, who belong to the dominant Lingayat caste. Defying threats, the couple fled and married at a sub-register office in May this year.
After their marriage, they sought police protection. A local officer convened a meeting between the families, warning Manya's parents not to harass the couple after they stated they would sever ties with their daughter. Despite this, no formal protection order was established. The couple had been living in Haveri district, roughly 100km away, due to the threats.
They returned to their home village of Inam Veerapur in Dharwad district on 8 December to collect important documents, including Aadhaar biometric cards needed for her impending hospital admission. It is believed they hoped her pregnancy might soften opposition.
The Fatal Attack and Aftermath
Tragically, on the evening of 21 December, Manya was working on a farm when she was assaulted with iron pipes by her father, Prakashgouda Patil, and other relatives. When her mother-in-law, Renavva Doddamani, and a relative named Subhash tried to intervene, they were also beaten.
All three were taken to a private hospital in Hubballi, where Manya succumbed to her injuries. Her husband was attacked separately but managed to escape to alert authorities. Police initially arrested three suspects, including the father, and have since detained additional relatives. Investigations, including call records and CCTV, suggest wider village involvement. Alarmingly, one suspect was allegedly found with a plastic can believed to contain petrol, raising fears of a planned arson attack on the couple's home.
Outcry and Political Response
The killing has triggered outrage and protest marches across Karnataka, led by Dalit organisations demanding fast-track courts, stronger protections for inter-caste couples, and harsher punishments. Advocate and activist K P Sripal called the murder a "collective moral failure" of society.
In response, the state government has offered financial assistance to Vivekananda Doddamani's family. This includes an initial payment of Rs 500,000 (£4,700) and a further Rs 1.7 million (£14,060) in compensation under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
More significantly, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa announced the government is examining the need for a tougher, standalone law to prevent caste-based killings, which may be named after the victim. He reiterated the constitutional right of adult women to choose their partners and vowed action not only against attackers but also those who encouraged the crime. Allegations of official negligence in the case are also under investigation.
