Woman’s murder in Hubballi given communal colours; BJP targets Congress government

BJP’s student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and other organisations aligned with Hindutva outfits have staged protests demanding justice and calling for severe punishment for the accused.

Similar protests have been reported in various other places.

Also Read: Four of family found murdered in Karnataka; BJP leaders son among deceased

The incident

In a shocking incident, Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on Thursday.

The accused Fayaz Khondunaik, who fled the scene, was arrested by police subsequently.

Neha was a first-year student of Master of Computer Applications and Fayaz was earlier her classmate.

According to a senior police officer, Fayaz, who stabbed her multiple times, claimed during interrogation the two had been in a relationship but she had been avoiding him of late. “It needs to be corroborated and verified, but he was arrested immediately.”

In Munavalli, Fayaz’s hometown in Belagavi district, there is outrage and demonstrations have been held by various organisations condemning the murder.

Union minister alleges ‘love jihad’

Union Minister and Dharwad Lok Sabha BJP candidate Pralhad Joshi suspected that there was a love jihad angle behind the incident.

There is a complete deterioration of law and order under the Congress regime, he alleged, urging CM Siddaramaiah to stop minority appeasement politics and special treatment to a “particular community.”

However, Home Minister G Parameshwara said there was no “love jihad” angle as of now.

“According to my information, they both were in love with each other. The boy is said to have stabbed the girl as she tried to distance herself from him. The love jihad angle is not seen as of now. He might have feared her marrying someone else, the details are not known yet,” Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters in Tumakuru, he said, when such incidents happen, the BJP routinely blames Congress, which is not right.

“The government will control such incidents in accordance with law, but viewing everything from a political angle at the time of elections is not right. They (BJP) cannot dictate to investigate in a certain way and to invoke certain sections. Based on evidence, police will put the sections,” he added.

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Personal issues, says CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said personal reasons were behind the murder. “The law and order situation in Karnataka is good. It is the duty of the government to maintain law and order of the state, and we are doing it.”

Siddaramaiah has condemned the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the deceased.

“An accused has been arrested in connection with the incident,” he said.

The chief minister directed the DGP to conduct a strict investigation. Further, action will be taken to ensure maximum punishment for the accused, he added.

He also said that people should not get agitated and take the law into their own hands or disturb the peace in society. The police will work to get justice for the victim.

ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ – ಧಾರವಾಡ ಮಹಾನಗರ ಪಾಲಿಕೆಯ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ ಸದಸ್ಯ ನಿರಂಜನ ಹಿರೇಮಠ ಅವರ ಪುತ್ರಿ ನೇಹಾ ಹಿರೇಮಠ ಅವರ ಹತ್ಯೆ ಖಂಡನೀಯ. ಮೃತ ಯುವತಿಯ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂತಾಪಗಳು.

ಘಟನೆ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಓರ್ವ ಆರೋಪಿಯನ್ನು ಬಂಧಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಕಟ್ಟುನಿಟ್ಟಿನ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಿ, ಆರೋಪಿಗೆ ಗರಿಷ್ಠ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಯಾಗುವಂತೆ ಕ್ರಮವಹಿಸಲು ಪೊಲೀಸ್…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 18, 2024

Calling this a shocking incident, BJP leader and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai noted that as far as he could remember such a daylight murder on a college campus with a knife had never happened in Hubballi. He further said the government has to take this very seriously as “this is not an issue concerning any individual and that it concerns the entire state.”

“A high-level inquiry has to be done, it cannot be done by the local police here, as everyone here in Hubballi-Dharwad including the commissioner is inactive. A SIT (special investigation team) should be formed,” he said.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner had yesterday said, the girl was stabbed as she rejected the accused’s love proposal, but the Home Minister today says they were in love, Bommai pointed out, adding, “This shows that the government is trying to look at it with a political and vote-bank angle.”

Also Read: Hubballi corporator’s daughter stabbed to death; classmate held

Family takes exception to CM’s comment

Siddarmaiah’s statement that the murder was due to “personal reasons” and Parameshwara’s comments that the two were in love, has elicited sharp reactions from Neha’s family members and Opposition parties.

State BJP chief BY Vijayendra said since the Congress came to power last year, the law and order situation has completely deteriorated in the state.

“The Congress, the CM and Deputy CM have to take responsibility for such incidents increasing in the state…such incidents are repeatedly happening, there is no fear of law.”

Reacting to the incident and BJP’s allegations, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the government is firm on taking action in accordance with the law and no one can take the law into their hands.

The government will not interfere in the investigation, the law will take its course, he said.

“During Bommai and other’s time (as CM), too such incidents have happened due to personal reasons, but we are very firm in dealing with such types of criminals.”

(With PTI inputs)