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A top Indian judge has called for the death sentence to be imposed for those found guilty of committing an "honour killing", the Indian Express reported on Monday.
Referring to cases of so-called honour killings in India's traditional northwestern belt, Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju said such crimes were encouraged by Khap or Caste Panchayats -- community groups comprising of elderly men which set the rules, despite having no legal sanction.
"These honour killings are done or encouraged by the caste panchayats. As these panchayats are vote banks for those in power, they do not want to disturb their vote bank," Katju was reported as saying, adding that district magistrates and police should be suspended if there were cases of honour killings in their areas.
Activists say cases of families lynching men and women, who engage in relationships with those of a different caste or religion, to salvage their perceived honour are widespread in some parts of India, including Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Any opposition to Khap Panchayats diktats are met with harsh punishment, including public beatings or ostracism. Political parties rarely speak out against these councils which form a major vote bloc for many of them.
Katju also said death sentences should be handed down to policemen who were behind extra-judicial killings, also known as "fake encounters", since they were supposed to "protect the public and not murder them."
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