In a deeply distressing incident on Thursday, January 30, a college student was brutally murdered in Raichur city, Karnataka, by a man identified as Mubin after she rejected his marriage proposal. The horrific crime unfolded in Sindhanoor town where Mubin, in a fit of rage, took the life of the young girl in a savage act of violence.

The victim, a 24-year-old MSc student named Shifa, was a resident of Lingasaguru. According to reports, the accused had been acquainted with the victim for over six years. During this period, Mubin developed romantic feelings for her. However, their association took a tragic turn when Shifa’s parents began arranging her marriage with another man, a decision that reportedly provoked Mubin’s violent outburst.

The accused, unable to accept her rejection, began to exert immense pressure on Shifa to marry him. When she refused his advances, he resorted to an appalling act of cruelty. While Shifa was traveling from Lingasaguru to Sindhanoor, Mubin ambushed her near Sindhanoor Government Graduation College. In a brutal attack, he stabbed her in the neck and subsequently slit her throat before fleeing the scene.

As if the crime itself were not horrifying enough, Mubin then made his way to the footwear shop owned by the man with whom Shifa’s marriage had been arranged. There, he created a scene, unleashing his anger before ultimately making his way to the Lingasaguru police station. In an astonishing turn of events, Mubin surrendered, confessing to the heinous crime he had just committed.

The incident prompted immediate action from the local authorities. Superintendent of Police Puttamadaiah quickly arrived at the crime scene, taking stock of the situation and initiating a full-scale investigation. Recognizing the need to prevent further panic among students and residents, he also ordered heightened security measures at the college.

The SP confirmed that an FIR had been registered, and the accused is currently undergoing interrogation. The investigation aims to uncover all underlying factors leading to the crime and ensure justice for the victim. The brutal nature of the crime has sent shockwaves across the region, raising concerns about the safety of women and prompting discussions on the urgency of stricter measures to protect victims of harassment and violence.

Muslim man murders Neha for refusing to convert to Islam

In a similar tragic and shocking incident last year, a Hindu girl named Neha Hiremath from Hubballi, Karnataka, was murdered by a Muslim man identified as Fayaz. The crime stemmed from Fayaz's repeated attempts to force Neha to marry him and convert to Islam, which she firmly refused.

Niranjan Hiremath, Neha’s father and a Congress Councillor from the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), revealed harrowing details about the circumstances leading to his daughter’s death. Speaking to the media, he emphasized, “They were forcing her to convert. Since she didn’t agree to religious conversion, she was murdered.”

The grieving father reiterated that his daughter's death was a case of ‘love jihad,’ a term used to describe instances where women are allegedly lured or coerced into relationships with the intent of religious conversion. “Fayaz killed Neha because she had refused to convert to Islam,” Niranjan stated in his testimony.

However, Hiremath also accused the Karnataka state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of downplaying the crime. According to him, the administration was trying to dismiss the murder as a case of "personal enmity," thereby avoiding recognition of any religious motive. This, he asserted, was an attempt to shift public focus away from the broader implications of the case.

Neha was described by her father as a deeply religious and socially active young woman. She was regularly involved in community events and excelled academically. Refuting any rumors of a romantic relationship between Neha and Fayaz, Hiremath explained that “Neha was very active in college events, and that is why there are many photographs of Neha and Fayaz circulating online.”

Furthermore, Hiremath pointed out the stark differences between his daughter and Fayaz, emphasizing that Neha was ambitious and pursuing higher education, while Fayaz was a dropout. Neha had reportedly made it clear that she was not interested in any relationship with Fayaz, a rejection that Fayaz refused to accept.

Hiremath further alleged that Fayaz was not acting alone but was part of a larger network targeting non-Muslim girls. He stated that this group had provided Fayaz with accommodation and support to carry out their activities. He revealed that he had already submitted the names of four other individuals to the police, claiming they were involved in “targeting and stalking girls from certain families.”

‘Fayaz did proper planning, more people are involved. This is a planned murder’: Neha’s father

In a further revelation about his daughter’s tragic murder, Niranjan Hiremath, father of the late Neha Hiremath, has insisted that Fayaz did not act alone. Speaking to the media, Hiremath explained that Fayaz came from a place located nearly 100 kilometers away from the scene of the crime. He questioned how Fayaz could have orchestrated the murder without the help of others. “It is impossible that he did it all alone. He had engaged many ‘informers’ in the college to get information on Neha’s movements, from outside the college gate to inside the campus,” Hiremath stated.

According to him, several students and batchmates from outside the college campus were reportedly involved in this sinister plot. These individuals allegedly kept track of Neha’s whereabouts and regularly updated Fayaz about her movements. Hiremath underscored how this network of informants played a crucial role in executing the meticulously planned crime.

The heartbroken father demanded further action to apprehend all those who were involved. On April 21, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigation and demanded a CBI inquiry if the Karnataka police failed to take necessary measures to capture every culprit linked to the case. “If the police cannot take necessary action, then a CBI inquiry is needed to ensure justice,” he insisted while addressing the media.

The next day, April 22, there was a significant development in the case. Responding to public outcry and pressure from Neha’s family, the state government transferred the investigation to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). Following this announcement, Hiremath expressed gratitude to the government and the countless supporters who rallied for justice. He stated, “We thank the government and everyone who stood by us demanding justice for Neha.”

The brutal murder took place on April 18 at B V Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology in Hubballi, where both Neha and Fayaz were students. The terrifying act was captured on camera, leaving little doubt about the events that transpired. Fayaz, who had been harassing Neha for months, confronted her once again on that fateful day. Despite repeatedly rejecting his advances and attempts to start a relationship, Neha faced relentless stalking and pressure from Fayaz.

Unable to accept her rejection, Fayaz's frustrations reached a breaking point. In a fit of rage, he stabbed Neha to death on campus grounds. The horrifying incident has continued to send shockwaves through the community, with renewed calls for enhanced measures to protect women from harassment, stalking, and gender-based violence.