Neha Hiremath murder: BJP chief offers condolences to Niranjan Hiremath over daughter's killing

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President, JP Nadda on Sunday (Apr 21) met Karnataka Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath, whose daughter Neha was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Fayaz. Neha was stabbed to death by Fayaz onher college campus in Hubballi. After meeting her father, JP Nadda told reporters, "I offered condolences to the family and came here to stand with them in this hour of grief."

Hitting out at the state government, Nadda said that the statements (on the incident) made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara were objectionable.

The BJP national president also said that the state government could hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The murder

Neha Hiremath, 23, was stabbed to death by her ex-lover and former classmate Fayaz on April 18. CCTV footage from Hubballi's BVB college showed Fayaz stabbing Neha several times. The man was subsequently arrested by the police.

The BJP termed the murder a case of "love jihad" while the Congress denied this. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the murder was not love jihad, adding, the BJP was using the killing of a woman for political purposes.

Demands for capital punishment for Fayaz have led to protests across Karnataka.

Victim's father demands CBI probe

On Sunday, NiranjanHiremath alleged that the police were trying to divert the case and demanded a CBI investigation. Hiremath demanded the transfer of the police commissioner in charge of the case for alleged negligence.

"I have given the names of eight people openly. They (the police) 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," he told the news agency ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)