Synopsis
The Karnataka Police announced that a young woman who went missing over a week ago has been found murdered. The case, which is being investigated for possible ties to 'love jihad,' has led to one arrest and a manhunt for two more suspects.Key Takeaways
- Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a nurse from Karnataka, was reported missing and later found murdered.
- The case has drawn allegations of 'love jihad' from local activists.
- One suspect, Nayaz, has been arrested, while two others remain at large.
- The investigation has formed special teams to address the rising crime concerns.
- Former CM Bommai has criticized the government for failing to ensure women's safety.
Bengaluru, March 14 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police confirmed on Friday that a young woman, who had been missing for over a week, has tragically been murdered, officials stated.
The event took place in the Haveri district of Karnataka, where Hindu activists and former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai have claimed that this incident reflects a case of "love jihad".
Authorities have apprehended the primary suspect and initiated a manhunt for two additional suspects.
Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a nurse hailing from Masur village, was reported missing on March 3.
The individual arrested has been identified as Nayaz, a resident of Halevirapura village.
Following the search for Swati, her family filed a missing person report at the Hirekerur police station.
On March 6, Swati's lifeless body was discovered in the Tungabhadra River near Pattepura village, close to Ranebennur town in Haveri district, under the jurisdiction of the Halageri police station.
Upon recovering the body, the Halageri police initially buried it, mistakenly believing it belonged to an orphan.
However, the post-mortem examination revealed that her death was a homicide. Subsequently, Swati's identity was verified once the missing person report was lodged, according to police sources.
Swati did not have a father, and her mother and other relatives initially had no reason to suspect foul play.
She was employed at a hospital in Ranebennur town.
During inquiries made by her family and police, it emerged that she had been involved in a relationship with a man named Nayaz.
Local villagers and Hindu activists suspect this case to be a clear instance of "love jihad" and have launched a signature campaign, demanding that police take action against Nayaz.
Swati's relatives asserted that had she belonged to a different community, justice would have been swift.
However, Haveri Superintendent of Police (SP) Anshu Kumar Srivastava stated in a media briefing on Friday that the post-mortem report confirmed Swati's murder.
Three special investigation teams were formed to delve into the case.
Through technical analysis and examination of call detail records, three suspects were identified, with one having already been arrested.
The police have initiated a manhunt for Vinayaka and Durgachari, the remaining two suspects in the murder.
According to the SP, Swati had a confrontation with the accused, which ultimately led to her murder. The suspects then allegedly transported her body in a vehicle and disposed of it in the Tungabhadra river.
In parallel, former CM and BJP MP Basavaraja Bommai condemned the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a young woman from Masuru village in Rattihalli taluk, Haveri, and claimed that a "love jihad" network is actively operating in the state, attributing the increasing number of such incidents to criminals feeling unaccountable.
In a post on X, former CM Bommai remarked that ever since the Congress government assumed power in Karnataka, women's safety has significantly declined.
He expressed disbelief at the rising number of incidents where young women are deceived and murdered under the guise of love.
The former Chief Minister noted that just as the public was grappling with the murder of Neha Hiremath in Hubballi, another horrifying case has emerged with Swati Ramesh Byadgi's murder in Haveri district.
Reports suggest that this case may also be connected to love jihad, Bommai asserted.
The BJP leader alleged that nearly a week post-incident, there seem to be efforts to shield the main accused, Nayaz.
Reports further indicate that Nayaz feigned love for Swati, later rejected her due to religious differences, and chose to marry another woman from his own community. When Swati confronted him about this, he purportedly murdered her.
Bommai accused the love jihad network of operating actively in the state and emphasized that the rise in such crimes is attributed to the absence of fear among criminals, insisting that only stringent punishment for offenders can prevent such occurrences.
"The police must act independently, without yielding to any external pressure, and take stringent measures against those responsible, including their supporters. However, authorities frequently fail to treat such cases with the seriousness they deserve, allowing them to fade from public consciousness," Bommai added.
He urged the state government to provide adequate compensation to Swati's family and ensure that justice is delivered.
