Love jihad controversy: Nursing students and Hindu activists rally in K'taka for justice in murder case

Haveri (Karnataka), March 17 (NationPress) A protest took place on Monday in Ranebennur town of Haveri district in Karnataka, organized by Hindu activists and nursing students, calling for justice for Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a nurse who was tragically murdered by three individuals named Nayaz, Vinay, and Durgachari on March 3.

The demonstrators are asserting that this incident is a case of ‘love jihad’, with a bandh observed in Masur, Swati’s hometown, as a mark of condemnation against the event.

As part of the protest, shops and businesses were closed, amplifying the call for justice for Swati.

Students from nursing and pharmacy courses, alongside Hindu activists, have voiced their demand for the death penalty for the accused. The protesters chanted slogans, seeking justice for Swati.

This case has taken on a communal dimension, with the BJP labeling it as a case of ‘love jihad’.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai visited Swati’s family, assuring them that justice would prevail.

Swati, who was a nurse and resided in Masur, was reported missing on March 3, and her lifeless body was discovered in the Tungabhadra river on March 6.

Investigations indicated that Swati had been strangled before her body was disposed of in the river.

The police apprehended three suspects: Nayaz, Vinay, and Durgachari, on charges of Swati’s murder.

According to law enforcement, the trio murdered Swati on March 3.

Swati and Nayaz had a romantic relationship, but Nayaz ended it after his family arranged for him to marry another woman from his community.

Following their breakup, Swati threatened Nayaz that she would not remain silent if he proceeded with the marriage.

Fearing repercussions, Nayaz plotted to kill Swati and conspired with Vinay and Durgachari. They then executed their plan.

Nayaz lured Swati under the pretext of a conversation and took her to Swarna Park in Ranebennur.

Subsequently, the assailants drove Swati to Rattihalli in a vehicle, where they strangled her inside an abandoned school building using a towel. They then disposed of her body in the trunk of the car and dumped it into the Tungabhadra river, as per police reports.

Swati had a passion for bull-taming sports, a traditional event in Haveri district, where she met Nayaz and fell in love with him.

After a thorough search for Swati, her family reported her missing at the Hirekerur police station.

On March 6, Swati's body was recovered from the Tungabhadra river.

The Halageri police, upon finding the body, initially buried it, mistaking it for that of a destitute person.

However, the post-mortem examination determined it was a homicide.

Later, Swati’s identity was confirmed after the missing person report was filed, according to police.

Swati was raised by her mother, as she had no father.

She worked at a hospital in Ranebennur.

When Swati's family and police consulted her colleagues and friends, they discovered that she had been involved with a man named Nayaz.

Local residents and Hindu activists assert that this incident is a case of ‘love jihad’ and have initiated a signature campaign, urging authorities to take decisive action against Nayaz.