The brutal murder of 24-year-old Neha Hiremath, a first-year Master of Computer Applications (MCA) student at BVB College in Hubballi, has sparked outrage and led to widespread protests in the city.
Neha was tragically stabbed to death inside the college campus allegedly by her acquaintance, 23-year-old Fayaz, who entered the premises wielding a knife and wearing a mask. The incident, which occurred around 3.30 pm on Thursday, has left the community in shock.
Numerous organisations and student activists took to the streets demanding justice for Neha. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) led protests, calling for a college bandh in the metro area. Additionally, groups like the Hindu Jagran forum, Sri Ram Sena, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers staged demonstrations in front of BVB College, demanding accountability for the crime.
Amidst the protests, the police heightened security measures, closing off the entire BVB College Road to ensure public safety.
The outrage extended beyond Hubballi, with protests erupting in other parts of Karnataka. In Belgaum, ABVP activists blocked roads at Chennamma Circle, demanding stringent action against Fayaz and criticising the State Government’s response to the incident. Meanwhile, protestors in Raichur advocated for enhanced security around college campuses and called for a CBI probe into the case. In Bengaluru, students gathered to condemn the murder, leading to police detentions as they attempted to block roads.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Home Minister Parameshwara’s remarks on the incident have drawn sharp criticism from Neha’s family. In response, Siddaramaiah held a meeting with DGP Alok Mohan and city Police Commissioner B Dayanand, urging them to take stringent measures to prevent such crimes and ensure swift justice for Neha.
Parameshwara stated, “Neha’s murder at the BVB Engineering College premises in the city has nothing to do with politics. Neha and the accused Fayaz were in love with each other. Later, she tried to distance herself from Fayaz.”
He further said, “Fayaz became angry and committed the murder. There is no evidence of love jihad in this case. If such events occur coincidentally, legal action will be taken against the accused.”
However, the victim’s father, also a Congress leader, expressed strong objections to the CM’s remark. Niranjan Hiremath voiced concerns about the phenomenon of “love jihad” and stressed on the importance of mothers being vigilant regarding their college-going daughters.
Disputing the statements made by the CM and Home Minister, Hiremath asserted, “Your statements are misleading and tarnishing the image of my family. I know who my daughter is. My concern is that no girl should be subjected to this kind of trauma. If the home minister’s statement is aimed at appeasing the vote bank, it won’t work out.”
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also weighed in on the incident, condemning it as a sign of deteriorating law and order under the administration of the Congress Government. “Due to the government’s appeasement policy, there is a lack of fear among sociopaths in the State,” Joshi remarked. He called for a thorough investigation into the case and demanded severe punishment for the accused.
Gadag district in-charge minister Santhosh Lad echoed Joshi’s sentiments, labelling Neha Hiremath’s murder as “highly reprehensible” and advocating for the implementation of encounter laws to prevent such heinous acts.
Leaders from the Muslim community condemned Neha’s murder and urged swift action against the accused. They appealed to the police commissioner to ensure justice by holding the perpetrator accountable.
In Fayaz’s hometown of Munavalli, shops voluntarily closed as a mark of condemnation for Neha’s killing and to demonstrate solidarity. To maintain peace and order, significant police presence was deployed, including Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) teams and armed reserve squads. Security personnel were also stationed at the residence of accused.
Neha’s final rites were conducted at the Kalburgi Mutt crematorium in Hubballi, following Veerashaiva rituals.
