Bengaluru, March 19 -- The Karnataka government on Wednesday introduced a bill in the legislative assembly aimed at curbing crimes committed "in the name of honour" and safeguarding individuals' right to choose their partners, proposing stringent penalties and new institutional mechanisms for prevention and redress. The proposed legislation, titled Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour and Tradition Bill, seeks to address a range of coercive practices, from violence and harassment to social and economic boycotts, that interfere with personal relationships, particularly intercaste marriages. A senior official involved in drafting the law said, "The intent is to make it unambiguously clear that the right to choose one's partner is protected under the Constitution and cannot be curtailed by family or community pressure" Under the proposed legislation, honour crimes are defined broadly to include not only murder but also physical assault, harassment, abduction, confinement, threats, eviction and interference with property and employment. "All offences under the bill are cognisable and non-bailable," the official said....