Love Jihad? Karnataka Congress Leader's Daughter Stabbed To Death On Campus

The incident occurred around 5 PM on Thursday when Neha was walking inside the campus. CCTV footage shows the accused

Digital Desk: The murder of a Karnataka Congress corporator's daughter on a college campus in Hubballi has sparked a political firestorm in the state, with the opposition BJP and the Congress administration clashing over 'love jihad' allegations.

In a shocking incident, the daughter of a Congress corporator was stabbed to death in Karnataka's Hubbali. Neha Hiremath, a first-year Master in Computer Application student at BV Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology, was attacked by an ex-classmate who was reportedly upset over her rejecting his advances.

The incident occurred around 5 PM on Thursday when Neha was walking inside the campus. CCTV footage shows the accused, identified as Fayaz, approaching Neha and engaging in a brief conversation before attacking her with a knife. Neha was stabbed seven times and was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead.

Fayaz, who was Neha's former classmate, had dropped out of the same college. According to Neha's mother, she was speaking to her daughter over the phone when the attack took place, within five minutes of the conversation.

Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar confirmed the incident and stated that the accused was arrested within 90 minutes of the crime. Officials also revealed that Neha and the accused had a history of heated arguments. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.

Love Jihad angle?

The BJP attacked the Siddaramaiah-led Congress administration, accusing it of playing appeasement politics at the price of maintaining peace 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.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar blamed 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.

According to India Today, “'Love jihad' is a phrase popularised by Hindutva organisations to denote the relationship between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim woman where the Muslim partner wishes to convert the non-Muslim.”