Indian cops grab murder gang

"The five accused were hired by the man's father-in-law to kill the couple and were arrested on Tuesday. They all have criminal records," district police chief Saroj Kumar Thakur said.

The woman's father and uncle were among the five people arrested.

Police are looking for another five suspects also thought to have been involved, A. Dhavamani, one of the investigating officers, said.

"Three of them were involved in the attack, including the woman's uncle," he said, adding that the others have confessed to conspiracy to kill the victim.

The woman's mother was also reportedly among those arrested, although this was not immediately confirmed, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Three men armed with sickles and sharp weapons reportedly attacked the 22-year-old student and his 19-year old wife on a crowded street in the southern Tamil Nadu state's Tirupur district on Sunday, killing him and seriously injuring her.

The attack was captured on CCTV, with footage showing three men on a motorbike pull over and attack the couple.

Caste system

The attack, which was preceded by several threats on the couple, was reportedly motivated by the bride's decision to marry outside her own caste, police said.

The woman married the Dalit engineering student eight months ago in defiance of her family, who are from the higher Thevar caste.

Marriage outside caste or religion still attracts strong censure in parts of India and can even lead to so-called 'honor killings,' carried out to protect family pride.

The Supreme Court has recommended the death penalty for those convicted of committing honor killings.