BJP claims love-jihad after college student hacked to death by jilted lover in Karnataka

A recent shocking incident in Karnataka where a 24-year-old student of BVB college in Hubballi was hacked to death on campus allegedly by her jilted lover has sparked a political debate where BJP has termed the incident as love-jihad whereas the ruling Congress claimed it was “personal”.

Neha Hiremath, daughter of Congress Corporator Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed multiple times by a masked assailant identified as Fayaz Khondunaik at her college campus last week on Thursday. The 23-year-old accused was waiting for her to come out of the college and attacked her.

Niranjan Hiremath, has demanded a CBI probe alleging that police were trying to “divert” the case.
Niranjan, a Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, also demanded the transfer of the police commissioner in charge of the case for alleged “negligence”, reported Hindustan Times.

"I have given the names of eight persons openly. They have not even caught one person. I am losing faith now. They are trying to divert my case. Give it to the CBI if you cannot do it. The commissioner in this case is a lady, even then she is not taking a girl's murder seriously... She is working under some pressure. I demand the commissioner should be transferred for negligence in the case. I demand that the case should be given to the CBI," he was quoted as saying on Sunday.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya blamed the Congress government in Karnataka for being “soft and slow” on the “killer(s)”.

“No Congress leader has visited Niranjan Hiremath, father of slain Neha Hiremath, who was stabbed to death by Fayaz. The helpless father now blames Congress Govt in Karnataka for being soft and slow on his daughter’s killer(s). As if daughter’s murder wasn’t enough, the family has to deal with Congress’s appeasement politics too. Will Neha ever get justice?” said Amit Malviya on X.

There have been several protests in the state demanding capital punishment for the accused.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra has also said that the incident appears to be a case of love jihad. He attacked the ruling Congress saying the chief minister Siddaramaiah was trying to protect the culprit.

"As far as the Hubballi-Dharwad incident is concerned, it is very unfortunate on the part of the CM. Instead of coming to the rescue of the family, he says the murder took place due to a personal vendetta. Women across the state are questioning the state government," he said.

Siddaramaiah had defended law and order situation in Karnataka and had said that the murder took place due to personal reasons.