Not love jihad: Karnataka govt amid outrage over woman’s murder in college

Mangalore Today News Network

Hubballi, April 19, 2024: The murder of a Karnataka Congress corporator’s daughter inside a college campus has ignited a political firestorm in the state, with the opposition BJP and the Congress government sparring over ’love jihad’ charges.

Neha, a 23-year-old Masters of Computer Applications (MCA) student, was attacked by Fayaz on the campus of BVB College in Hubballi on Thursday. CCTV footage showed Fayaz stabbing Neha multiple times before fleeing. Police said the woman died of multiple stab wounds inflicted by Fayaz, who was later arrested.

WHAT VICTIM’S FATHER SAID

The victim’s father, Niranjan Hiremath, said the accused, Fayaz, was known to the family, and they had even tried to dissuade him from pursuing Neha.

"He was an old student, and he had proposed to my daughter, but she rejected his proposal," Hiremath said. She did not like him, and she usually stayed away from all this... She refused his proposal, saying they both belonged to different castes and that she did not wish to have any relationship with him. Out of anger, he stabbed my daughter."

He further stated, "The motive of the murder is that the victim rejected the accused’s love proposal... We had a conversation with the accused before the incident took place where we explained to him that we are Hindu and you are Muslim, so we cannot allow you to get married."

WAR OF WORDS OVER ‘LOVE JIHAD’

The BJP hit out at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, accusing it of playing politics of appeasement at the expense of law and order.

"This is an unfortunate incident and I believe there is an angle of ’love jihad’ in this. When the girl refused (the guy’s) advances, she was murdered. Under the Congress government, law and order is not there," Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

“Maybe he stabbed her because she was to marry someone else, but I don’t know the details yet. But since it was a mutual relationship, it doesn’t seem to be a case of love jihad,” Parameshwara said.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP of trying to create fear and panic. "BJP is trying to threaten by showing that there is no law and order in Karnataka. Karnataka has the best law and order. They are just trying to tell the voters that they are going to put Governor’s Rule in the state. They cannot do it. The law will take its own course for everyone," Shivakumar said.

BJP YOUTH WING PROTESTS

The campus murder sparked outrage with BJP’s student wing, ABVP, demanding justice for Neha’s death. Thousands of students participated in the demonstrations, blocking roads and calling for a college bandh in Hubballi.

Appealing for calm, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the public of a thorough investigation. "An accused has already been arrested in connection with the incident, and I have instructed the Director General of Police to conduct a strict investigation and take action so that the accused receives the maximum punishment," he said.



Courtesy: India Today