A major political row has erupted in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha elections over the brutal murder of 23-year-old Neha Hiremath in Hubbali.
The BJP's Karnataka unit on Monday staged protests in various parts of the state over the horrific case, a day after party chief JP Nadda accused chief minister Siddaramaiah of “influencing and diluting” the investigation into the murder.
Who was Neha Hiremath and what happened?
Hiremath was a first-year MCA student at BVB college of KLE Technological University and daughter of Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath.
The accused, Fayaz Kondunaik, allegedly stabbed her to death in the corridors of the campus on April 18.
According to the police, Neha came to college to take her examinations after a gap of two months due to typhoid.
Upon seeing her coming out of the examination hall, Fayaz took out his knife and stabbed her in the back and neck. She collapsed in a pool of blood and was rushed to the hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries on the way.
The assailant tried to flee the spot after the attack but was overpowered and taken into custody. Fayaz used to be Neha's classmate.
According to News18, the Congress councillor claimed that his daughter was forced to convert to Islam and was murdered because she refused.
"They are spreading photos of Neha and Fayaz on social media. Those photos were taken at college functions. I have learnt that Fayaz's parents told their son to bring Neha or else kill her. I will file a complaint against them,” he was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
However, sources in the Dharwad district jail told TOI that Fayaz allegedly murdered Neha as she was avoiding and refusing to talk to him.
Political row erupts
The BJP, however, has called the murder a case of "love jihad" and accused the Congress government of resorting to "appeasement politics".
The party also highlighted a series of incidents such as the bomb blast in Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, attack on youths for chanting Jai Sri Ram, and reciting Hanuman Chalisa.
On Monday, several BJP leaders staged protests in various parts of the state.
Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra led the protests in Mysuru, while the leader of opposition R Ashoka and former chief minister and Haveri BJP candidate Basavaraj Bommai spearheaded the agitation in Tumakuru and Haveri.
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar led the protests in Belagavi where he is fighting the election on a BJP ticket.
Ballari BJP candidate B Sriramulu took part in the agitation in Ballari city. Murugesh Nirani in Bagalkote and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in Kalaburagi led the agitation in their cities respectively.
In Hubballi and Dharwad, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai conducted the protests. Protesters took out a march, raised slogans 'Long Live Neha Hiremath' and staged sit-in demonstrations holding placards and Neha Hiremath's photograph.
(With inputs from agencies)
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