Niranjan Hiremath, the father of Neha Hiremath, made a startling revelation on Monday, asserting that his daughter was coerced into conversion and accusing the Karnataka Police of acting as mere puppets for the state government.
In a fervent address to the media, Niranjan expressed his dismay, claiming, "The Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar is merely a puppet in this scenario. It's been four agonizing days since my daughter's tragic demise. We filed a complaint promptly, the post-mortem was conducted, yet no tangible action has been taken thus far. Even after Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar's intervention, instructing the Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar to act, there has been no progress."
Niranjan, also a Congress Corporator, alleged that despite ministerial directives, the Police Commissioner remained inert. "Their reassurances of 'we are with you' and 'don't worry' hold no weight when action is what's needed. They haven't even bothered to seek information from us," he lamented.
According to Niranjan, despite providing the names of all suspects, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. "The brutality of the crime suggests it was not a solitary act. The perpetrator hails from a location 100 kilometers away, executing the crime with meticulous planning on the college campus in broad daylight. It's inconceivable that this was the work of a lone individual," he emphasized.
He further alleged that the accused received constant updates on Neha's whereabouts from informants stationed from the campus gate to its interiors. "Both insiders and outsiders colluded to ensure Neha's tragic fate," he asserted.
Niranjan urged the police to scrutinize Neha's call records, a request yet to be fulfilled.
Regarding the alleged conversion attempts, Niranjan revealed that the accused had persistently pursued Neha for two years, despite her staunch resistance. "Upon learning of his ulterior motives, Neha distanced herself and vehemently opposed him. I've personally reviewed all her messages. What more evidence is required? There was undoubtedly an attempt to coerce her into conversion," he asserted.
Expressing distrust in the ongoing investigation, Niranjan demanded the immediate transfer of the Police Commissioner and the case's transfer to the CID's Special Wing. He also appealed to BJP President J.P. Nadda to hand over the case to the CBI.
Apprehensive for his safety, Niranjan implored the Chief Minister and State Home Minister to provide police protection, fearing reprisals for his outspokenness against the government.
Neha Hiremath, an MCA student, met a tragic end at the hands of Fayaz Kondikoppa on the college campus in Hubballi, where he stabbed her to death. The perpetrator was apprehended by students and handed over to the police.
State Home Minister G. Parameshwara suggested a romantic relationship between the accused and the deceased, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed assertions of love jihad.
Niranjan Hiremath reiterated that the victim's family would resort to drastic measures if the state government interfered with the investigation.
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