There have been many devilish acts carried out in what is proclaimed as ‘God’s own country’ better known as Kerala. Rampant killings of RSS and BJP workers at the hands of Leftists, influence of Islamic State on the youth of Kerala are some of the major problems the most literate state in India faces. The Communist government in Kerala shies away from these issues and preaches other BJP ruled states to follow their lead. Nobody is safe in Kerala anymore, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, unless you are rich and influential you better be afraid for your life and that of your family. Kevin P Joseph, an ITI diploma holder electrician hailing from a Dalit Christian family was murdered by the family members of the girl. Neenu Chacko who hails from an influential Syrian Christain family got married to Kevin quite recently. Neenu’s family had problems with Joseph’s Dalit background and did not consider him to be worthy of their daughter. The ‘unchristian’ act of kidnapping and murder of Joseph was carried out by Neenu’s brother with the help of workers from Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) according to an article published in The Indian Express. DYFI is the youth wing of CPI (M).
Neenu Chacko comes from an influential Syrian Christian family. There had been constant problems ever since the couple got married. Earlier too the police had sided with Neenu’s relatives and had in fact let Kevin and Neenu stay together only after facing pressure from the crowd at the police station. Even when Kevin’s father Joseph approached the police station pleading to the police to track his 23 year old son, the police officer did not take any action citing he was busy with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s visit. Kevin was staying at his cousin’s house in Mannanam from where they were kidnapped and later murdered by Neenu’s brother with the help of DYFI workers. Anish, cousin of Kevin, was dropped back at his house by the gang which claimed that Kevin had escaped. Kevin’s father had taken numerous trips to the police station from the moment he heard of the kidnapping.
Kevin’s body was found 100 kms away in a canal a couple of days later. The angle of DYFI workers and caste hierarchy in the Christian community in Kerala cannot be denied in this incident. This atrocity and murder committed on people coming from the Dalit sections in Kerala has not been reported as widely as it would have been if the news had come from a North Indian state. This is a case of honour killing carried out in the supposedly ‘woke’ Communist state. Two things which can be deduced from this incident are that literacy does not convert into moral upliftment and upper caste-lower caste divide in the minority religions are prevalent in India as well. No wonder this news is not being reported as prominently by the mainstream media as it took place in the Communist ruled Kerala. It would have been protest worthy incident had it taken place in a BJP ruled state. Even Human Rights Commission and NGOs have maintained silence over these issues just like they were quiet when BJP workers were being killed and brutalized in West Bengal.
Irrespective of political leanings and religious affiliations, everyone should condemn such gruesome acts and see them for what they are instead of blaming a party or a government. The inaction of Kerala police officers has led to the murder of a young Dalit Christian youth at the hands of his co-religionists. Kerala government and Leftist parties should be ashamed at the happenings in their not so perfect state.
