Chennai: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday denied any incidents of ‘honour killings’ happening in the state and also dismissed the need for a separate legislation to prevent such murders.

“There was no incidence of honour killing in the state. Rarely do suicide or suspicious deaths involving inter caste couples occur. The police are taking firm action in these matters against culprits under the Indian Penal Code. To prevent caste clashes and murders caused by them, there is no need for enacting a new legislation,” he said, intervening in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in the Assembly.

Mr Panneerselvam was replying to Puthiya Tamizhagam member Dr S. Krishnaswamy, who raised apprehensions of increasing caste-related tensions and honour killings of inter caste couples. Recalling the history of the social justice movement in the state, he said that Tamil Nadu recorded a mere 2 per cent of inter caste marriages out of the total marriages while Punjab recorded 25 per cent of such marriages and neighbouring Kerala 10 per cent.

He expressed his anguish at parents killing their own children if they fell in love or got married outside their caste. Pointing to the AIADMK government introducing an act to prevent infanticide during its rule in 1991-96, he demanded that the government bring in a special legislation to protect inter-caste marriages and stop honour killings.