"Promised her on the grave...": Neha Hiremath’s father apologises to Karnataka govt

Mangalore Today News Network/News18

Bengaluru, April 23, 2024: Karnataka Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath on Tuesday apologised for speaking against the Karnataka government after his 23-year-old daughter, Neha, was killed inside her college campus. He demanded that a law be formulated to deal with cases like his daughter’s, and the “fast-track court be named after Neha Hiremath“.

 

“Encounter or hang to death is the only option (for the accused). I have promised my Neha on her grave that I won’t give up,” Niranjan said.

The daughter of Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation was stabbed to death by her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik on the campus of BVB College on April 18.

As communal allegations were made, Siddaramaiah clarified that personal reasons were behind the murder while Parameshwara said there was no “love jihad” angle as alleged by the BJP.

Earlier, Niranjan Hiremath had claimed his daughter was murdered due to “love jihad”. “If this is not Love Jihad, then what is?” Hiremath asked, adding that forced marital religious conversions have been spreading a lot.

“Incidents of this sort have been happening. I see various cases, and their cruelty is increasing. Why are youngsters going astray? Things have come to a point where I cannot hesitate to say this. Because I know the pain of losing a daughter. I have seen in various cases now, of parents losing children,” the Corporator said.

On the other hand, the mother of Fayaz (the 23-year-old who allegedly killed Neha) refuted Niranjan Hiremath’s claim of an attempt of forced marital religious conversion. She told reporters that her son and Neha “were in love”.

The mother claimed that the deceased herself took Fayaz’s number when he became ‘University Blue’ in a body-building competition, and “she made the first move”. “They were in love with each other… I have known about this for the last year,” Mumtaz told reporters.

8-Member CID Team Reaches Hubballi, Asked to Submit Report Within 10-12 Days

After Karnataka government handed over the Hubballi murder case to CID, an eight member of the agency, headed by deputy SP Venkatesh, reached the city on Tuesday.

Officials said the team will visit the place of murder, collect necessary case information from the police station and later take a statement from Neha’s parents. The team has been tasked to submit the report to the government within 10-12 days.

“The father has said four-five people are behind it. Whatever it might be, the case will be investigated and the report will be handed over to the government within 10-12 days. They must not take months together. They must submit the report as soon as possible. The government order has already been passed. I have faith that Neha’s parents will get justice and the truth will be out,” Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said.