Protests continue in Hubballi-Dharwad over Neha murder

Widespread protests and calls for justice in Hubballi after the tragic murder of student Neha Hiremath.

Neha Hiremath’s family carried out their daugther’s fifth day ritual in Hubballi on Monday even as visits by leaders to console them continued, while widespread protests were staged in various parts of the State with Muslims shutting down their shops and taking out silent march seeking justice for Neha in the twin cities.

Amid a demand for CBI inquiry by BJP leaders and Neha’s father expressing doubt about getting justice from the local police, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led State government has handed over the case to CID for a thorough investigation.

Neha’s father Niranjan Hiremath welcomed the government’s decision to hand over the case to CID and hoped that the CID officials carry out the investigation in such a way that the accused is awarded death penalty.

He, however, felt that the accused should have been killed in an encounter immediately by the police. He said that the Police Commissioner should be transferred immediately for not handling the case properly.

Meanwhile, the former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who visited the family on Monday, termed the government action as an eyewash and said that only a CBI inquiry will give justice to Neha’s family.

Strongly condemning the murder of student Neha Hiremath and seeking stringent punishment to her assailant, Muslim organisations and trade bodies observed voluntary half-day bandh in Hubballi Dharwad on Monday and took out a silent protest march in the twin cities.

As per the decision taken by Anjuman-e-Islam, all business establishments run by Muslims remained closed till afternoon on Monday. In both the cities, Muslims pasted posters on their closed shops paying tribute to Neha Hiremath, an MCA student and daughter of Congress municipal councillor Niranjan Hiremath of Hubballi. Neha was stabbed to death by Fayaz Khandunayak, her one-time classmate.