Protests were held by BJP and Hindutva organisations in various parts including Munavalli, the native town of the accused. Members of ABVP and Sadbhava Vedike also held protests in Hubballi.

Hebbalkar meets family

Earlier in the day, Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar visited the house of municipal councillor from Congress Niranjan Hiremath, consoled the family members and assured them of an impartial investigation into the whole incident and punishment to the guilty.

Shivamurthy Shivacharya of Taralabalu Mutt, Sirigere, Vachanananda Swami of Panchamasali Peetha, Harihar, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and others met Neha’s family.

Parents seek severe punishment

In a related development, the parents of Fayaz, the accused in student Neha Hiremath’s murder case, have apologised to the people of the State and the family of Neha and have demanded strict punishment for him.

Speaking to presspersons in Dharwad on Saturday, Fayaz’s mother, Mamtaz, a teacher, has demanded strict punishment as per law of the land.

She said she was deeply shocked by the developments that had led to Neha’s brutal murder. “It is great injustice to Neha and her family. What he has done is completely wrong. He has made us hang our head in shame. He had left home five days ago (April 13) saying he was fed up of sitting at home and would go find a job. I came to know about the ghastly incident after an acquaintance called me asking me to switch on the television,” she said in a choking voice.

“Were in love”

Terming Neha a good person, Mamtaz said that her son and Neha were good friends but they were also in love. “It was not one-sided love. He had told me that Neha was in love with him and they were ready to get married but I had told him to first focus on making a career. My son was intelligent. Neha too was intelligent. I wanted them to prepare for IAS. But he has made us hang our head in shame,” she said recalling that she had spoken to Neha over phone once.

“But what he has done is a big mistake and he should suffer for it. As a mother myself, I know the kind of grief Neha’s family is in. He should be given severe punishment as per law of the land,” she said.

Fayaz’ father apologises

Speaking to presspersons in Munavalli in Belagavi district, the father of the accused Fayaz, Babasaheb Subani too has apologised to the people and Neha’s family. “Because of my son’s heinous act, Munavalli has earned a bad name. Very strict punishment should be given to my son for what he has done. It should be such that no one should ever think of committing such acts” he said.

Mr. Babasaheb said Neha’s father had called him to tell him that Fayaz had been troubling his daughter. “However, Fayaz had told me that they were in love and wanted to get married. He had subsequently quarralled with me and stopped talking to me. As we had some domestic dispute, he was living with his mother separately,” Mr. Babasaheb said.

Neha’s father disagrees and alarmed the issue of Love Jihad 

Neha’s father Niranjan Hiremath, however has termed this a lie, saying that there was no such thing and they had never approached him with a marriage proposal.

Mr. Hiremath also said that there were some unseen hands behind videos that had become viral on social media and Home Minister and Chief Minister were being given wrong information on the whole issue.

He added that, subsequently Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar had met him and assured him of requisite measures. He said he had given information of four others who he believed were involved in the incident and the commissioner had assured him of action.

Drawing the theory of ‘Love Jihad’  the daughterless Congress councillor alarmed the increasing Love Jihad cases in the state and urged all Hindu girls and their parents to be careful for avoiding dangerous situations. 

Kalyana Karnataka witnesses widespread protests

Hundreds of activists cutting across their political affiliations and ideologies, on Saturday, took to the streets across Kalyana Karnataka region condemning the murder of the student Neha Hiremath in Hubballi. Processions, demonstrations and effigy burning were seen.

#JusticeForNeha seeks the capital punishment for the brutal murder perpetrated by Fayaz. 

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__Inputs from The Hindu and News18.