Synopsis
Karnataka Police have detained two additional individuals linked to the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a young nurse. This incident has sparked allegations of "love jihad" from various political and social groups, drawing significant attention to the case.Key Takeaways
- Two more suspects arrested in Swati's murder case.
- Swati was a nurse from Masur village.
- Police suspect a conspiracy involving love and jealousy.
- Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned the murder.
- Allegations of "love jihad" have emerged.
Bengaluru, March 15 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police have detained two additional suspects on Saturday in relation to the murder of a young woman, Swati Ramesh Byadgi, as per reports from the Haveri district.
Hindu activists and the BJP have claimed that this incident is a case of "love jihad".
Swati, a nurse and resident of Masur village, had been reported missing since March 3.
Her body was discovered in the Tungabhadra river on March 6.
The investigation revealed that Swati was strangled to death and subsequently discarded in the river.
The police had already apprehended the primary suspect, Nayaz, on Friday.
The two newly arrested individuals are identified as Vinay and Durgachari, who are said to be close associates of Nayaz.
According to law enforcement, the trio murdered Swati on March 3.
Swati and Nayaz were in a relationship, but he later ended it after his family arranged his marriage to another girl from the Muslim community.
Angered by this, Swati warned Nayaz that she would not remain silent if he married someone else.
Fearing repercussions, Nayaz plotted to kill Swati and discussed his plan with Vinay and Durgachari. The three conspired to commit the crime.
Nayaz lured Swati under the guise of wanting to talk and took her to Swarna Park in Ranebennur.
Later, they drove her to Rattihalli, where they strangled her inside an abandoned school building using a saffron-colored towel. Subsequently, they placed her body in the trunk of the car and disposed of it in the Tungabhadra river, according to police reports.
In the meantime, former Minister and senior BJP leader B.C. Patil visited Swati's mother at their home in Masur village on Saturday to offer condolences. He gathered information from the family and urged the state government to ensure severe punishment for all involved in Swati's murder.
Swati was enthusiastic about attending bull-taming sports, a traditional event in Haveri district, where she met Nayaz and fell in love with him.
However, Hindu activists and former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai have alleged that Swati's murder constitutes "love jihad".
After searching for Swati, her family filed a missing person report at the Hirekerur police station.
On March 6, police found Swati's body in the Tungabhadra river near Pattepura village, close to Ranebennur town in Haveri district, under the jurisdiction of the Halageri police station.
The Halageri police initially buried the body, assuming it belonged to an orphan.
However, the subsequent post-mortem revealed it was a murder case.
Later, Swati's identity was confirmed as the missing person report was filed, police stated.
Swati did not have a father, and her mother and relatives initially had no suspicions regarding the circumstances of her death.
She worked at a hospital in Ranebennur town.
Upon inquiry by Swati's family and police with her colleagues and friends, they learned that she had been in a relationship with a man named Nayaz.
Villagers and Hindu activists suspect that this incident is a case of "love jihad" and have initiated a signature campaign, urging the police to take action against Nayaz.
Swati's family and relatives believe that if she were from a different community, justice would have been served more promptly.
Former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai condemned the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a young woman from Masuru village in Rattihalli taluk, Haveri, and claimed that the "love jihad" network is actively operating in the state, with the increasing number of such incidents attributable to a lack of fear among criminals.
In a post on X, Bommai remarked that since the Congress government assumed power in Karnataka, the safety of women has declined.
It is alarming that there has been a surge in incidents where young women are deceived and murdered under the guise of love, he added.
The former Chief Minister mentioned that just as the murder of Neha Hiremath in Hubballi was still fresh, another shocking incident has arisen with the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi in Haveri district.
Reports suggest that this case may also be linked to love jihad, Bommai noted.
The BJP leader indicated that nearly a week post-incident, attempts to shield the primary suspect, Nayaz, appear evident.
Reports reveal that Nayaz feigned love for Swati, later rejected her due to her different religion, and opted to marry another woman from his community. When Swati confronted him about this, he allegedly killed her.
Bommai also asserted that the "love jihad" network has been increasingly active in the state recently.
The rise in such crimes is due to the absence of fear among criminals, and he emphasized that only stringent punishment for the guilty can prevent such incidents, he stated.
"The police must operate without yielding to any pressure and take rigorous action against those responsible, including those supporting such acts. However, the relevant authorities often fail to address such cases seriously, allowing them to fade from public consciousness," Bommai added.
He urged the state government to offer suitable compensation to Swati's family and ensure justice is delivered.
