Dalit man in India hacked to death in "honour killing"

A 22-year-old man belonging to Dalit community was hacked to death in full public view in a suspected case of "honour killing" in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, officials said.

V. Sankar was murdered while his wife, 19-year-old Kousalya, was badly injured in a brutal attack by three motorcycle borne men armed with sickles and sharp weapons.

The young man succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital, while his wife has been hospitalized and is undergoing treatment, officials said.

The couple was attacked on Sunday at Udumalaipettai in Tiruppur, about 538 south west of Chennai city, the capital of Tamil Nadu.

The horrific incident was captured in a CCTV camera. The video shows three assailants attacking the couple as bystanders watch the hacking without raising alarm or trying to stop the attackers.

The video was broadcast by several Indian TV news channels and has gone viral on the internet.

"Shanker, a lower caste was an engineering student and had married Kousalya belonging to upper caste some eight months back," an official said. "The marriage was against the wishes of woman's family and is apparently seen as a reason behind attack."

Dalits were previously known as untouchables in India.

Kousalya's father has been arrested over the murder as part of police investigations, officials said.

Local newspaper reports quoting the man's family said the couple had received death threats from the wife's family.

Dalit community in the area staged protests and demand arrest of culprits.

Analysts say Indian society is deeply divided on caste lines.

Every year hundreds of young couples in India have to face brutal wrath (that often turns deadly) for marrying outside their caste. Endit