Published Feb 04, 2026 | 12:16 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 04, 2026 | 12:16 PM
Ananda Krishnan and Sivamathi. (Supplied)
Synopsis: 19-year-old Sivamathi of Tirunelveli died on 1 February, days before marrying Anand Krishnan. While her family claimed suicide, Anand alleged caste-based murder, citing threats and assaults. Doctors found injuries, raising suspicion. Police await the post-mortem, but no FIR has been filed. TNUEF termed it a possible honour killing and pledged support for Anand in seeking justice.
Just months after software engineer Kavin Selvaganesh was allegedly killed in a caste-based murder in Tirunelveli district, reports have now emerged of another young woman being killed by her own family in what is suspected to be a caste crime.
Sivamathi (19), daughter of Pakchi Raja and Revathi, residents of Chekkadi Annadhana Vinayagar Koil Street in Tirunelveli’s Pettai area, was said to have died by suicide on 1 February.
However, her fiancé Anand Krishnan, who was preparing to marry her on 6 February, has filed a complaint with the Tirunelveli Police Commissioner, alleging that Sivamathi did not die by suicide but was deliberately murdered by her family.
Speaking to South First, Anand said they had been in love since their college days.
Anand, a resident of Thanthai Periyar Street in the Pettai area, belongs to the Devendrakula Vellalar community. Meanwhile, Sivamathi’s father is a Chettiar and her mother belongs to the Pillaimar community.
Because of this, Anand said, Sivamathi’s family had opposed their relationship from the beginning.
As problems at home intensified, the couple decided to get married. They fixed their wedding for Friday, 6 February, at Sivagami Amman temple near Sengottai. Wedding invitations were printed, and they had also obtained a “bachelorhood certificate” from the Revenue Department.
But somehow, Sivamathi’s family came to know about their plan. Anand alleged that on 1 February, Sivamathi’s parents and uncle Palani assaulted and tortured her. He also said they took away her mobile phone.
That same day, Sivamathi managed to call Anand from her grandmother’s phone. She told him that her parents were assaulting and threatening to kill her if she married a “lower-caste” man, according to Anand’s complaint.
Later that evening, around 6 pm, Sivamathi’s parents took her to the Old Pettai Government Hospital, claiming she killed herself by hanging.
However, the doctors noticed injuries on her body and informed the police. Based on this, police retrieved her body and sent it to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.
Anand came to know that Sivamathi had died. He tried to see her body but was not allowed.
Suspecting foul play, he went to the Pettai police station the same night to lodge a complaint. But the police refused to register it, saying the inspector was not available and asked him to come later.
“On 1 February, Sivamathi had no phone with her the whole day. When her parents went out, she called me twice in the afternoon from her grandmother’s phone. After that, there were no calls. At around 4 pm, when I went near her house on my bike, she saw me and smiled from inside the house. That was the last time I saw her,” Anand said.
In a couple of hours, people nearby came to know that Sivamathi had died by suicide.
Anand believes Sivamathi’s parents may have killed her. He went to the police station alleging it was a caste killing.
After being turned away by the cops, he submitted a written complaint to the Tirunelveli Police Commissioner on 2 February 2. But even now, he says, no FIR has been registered on that complaint. The Commissioner’s office has only told him that “necessary action is being taken”.
The Police Commissioner has appointed Ilavarasan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tirunelveli Town), as the investigating officer in the case.
Anand further alleged that even before a full investigation was conducted, Sivamathi’s parents used their influence to close the case as a suicide. He claimed that her body was cremated even before the complete post-mortem report was received.
When contacted, Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner N Manivannan said, “The post-mortem report has not yet been received. We are waiting for it. Probe is underway. At this stage, we cannot say for sure whether it is suicide or murder.”
He also said that no one has been arrested so far. When asked whether this was a case of caste killing, he replied, “definitely not.”
Speaking to South First, Durai Narayanan, a local leader of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, said, “We met Anand Krishnan recently. This looks like a planned dishonour killing. The girl died just two days before her wedding, raising suspicion.”
He added that the organisation would stand by Anand Krishnan and ensure that the case is properly investigated and justice is delivered.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
