Hubballi girl’s murder prompts demonstrations; BJP criticizes government

The killing of a municipal council member’s daughter on her college campus has provoked demonstrations and worldwide criticism.

In Karnataka, the dispute has erupted into a political brawl between the opposition BJP and the governing Congress. The saffron party claims that the episode demonstrates the breakdown of law and order in the state, despite the governing party’s attempts to portray it as a personal issue.

Protests have been held by the BJP’s student branch, the ABVP, and other groups supporting Hindutva movements, seeking justice and harsh punishment for anyone found guilty. Reports of similar demonstrations have come from a number of other locations.

On Thursday, Neha Hiremath (age 23), the daughter of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Congress councillor Niranjan Hiremath, was fatally stabbed on the campus of BVB College. After leaving the scene, the accused, Fayaz Khondunaik, was subsequently taken into custody by the police.

Neha had previously been a classmate of Fayaz’s, and she was a first-year Master of Computer Applications student. A senior police officer said that Fayaz, who repeatedly stabbed her, stated during questioning that they had dated but that she had been avoiding him lately.

“He was detained right away, but everything has to be confirmed and validated.” There is indignation in Munavalli, Fayaz’s hometown in the Belagavi region, and several organizations have staged protests against the killing. Pralhad Joshi, a union minister and BJP candidate for Dharwad Lok Sabha, believed the event had a love jihad component.