Triple murder in India highlights increase in 'honour killings'

[Liberal_in_LA]

tragic result of fewer females. Decades ago when patriarchal societies such as indian and china began throwing away their baby girls, some predicted a increase in female status as women became scarcer. Instead...this article attributes honor killings (of male and female) to the tight marriage market



Triple murder in India highlights increase in 'honour killings'

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Shobha, Monica and Kuldeep were each shot twice in the head last Sunday evening. They had no reason to suspect their murderers. One was Shobha's brother, Mandeep. The other was Monica's brother, Ankit. The third was a local boy known to them both.

There are 1,000 "honour killings" a year in India, according to one recent study, but few reveal the underlying causes as the triple murder of Wazipur. Significantly, the Indian capital itself has seen an unprecedented spate of such incidents in recent weeks.

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Prem Chowdhry, a respected historian and researcher, said it was unsurprising that young men had taken the lead role. In the neighbouring state of Haryana, foeticide of girls has led to a ratio of 800 women to every 1,000 men. Women also "marry up" – Monica's husband came from the higher rajput class – leaving more than a third of lower caste men without wives, she said.

"The social situation is very volatile. The marriage market is very tight and that causes huge problems. Youngsters react very strongly. If a woman makes an independent choice she has to pay the penalty," Chowdhry said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/25/triple-murder-india-honour-killings