New Delhi: The mother of 23-year-old Fayaz, who allegedly killed the daughter of a Congress councilor within a college campus in Hubballi, apologised to the victim Neha's family for her son's actions. She has also called for stringent punishment for him. Following the incident, there have been widespread protests across various regions of the state, with demands for capital punishment for Fayaz, who has been arrested in connection with the incident that occurred on April 18.
With folded arms and tears in eyes, the accused's mother Mamtaz, a teacher said, "I apologise to the people of Karnataka as well as Neha's family for what my son has done. It is a great injustice to Neha and her family. What my son has done is completely wrong and we hang our heads in shame. What he did is a big mistake and he should be given strict punishment", reported PTI.
While speaking to reporters in Dharwad, Mamtaz said that Fayaz and Neha were not just friends but were in love and wanted to marry. She recounted how she became aware of their relationship a year ago, mentioning that Neha had initiated contact by obtaining Fayaz's phone number.
Mamtaz also talked about her son's academic achievements, noting his consistent academic success since his early schooling days, as well as his accomplishments in bodybuilding competitions where he earned the title of University Blue champion. She revealed Fayaz's ambition to pursue a career as an IAS officer, indicating his dedication to his studies and future aspirations.
Former CM Jagadish Shettar Demands Inquiry
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Saturday visited the victim's family and extended his condolences, strongly condemning the incident. Describing the act as inhumane, he emphasised the need for an impartial and expeditious inquiry into the matter by the state government, Chief Minister, and Home Minister.
The alleged murder of the daughter of a city corporation councilor within her college campus has sparked widespread outrage and protests. The incident has escalated into a political showdown between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka. While the ruling party seeks to portray it as a personal matter, the BJP suspects the involvement of "love jihad" and criticizes the state's deteriorating law and order situation.
Neha (23), the daughter of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath from the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, was stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on Thursday. The accused, Fayaz Khondunaik, a former classmate of Neha's, allegedly fled the scene but was apprehended by the police, as per PTI.
Neha, a first-year MCA student, and Fayaz had reportedly been in a relationship, but Fayaz claimed during interrogation that Neha had been avoiding him recently. The police are investigating these claims, but Fayaz was arrested immediately after the incident.
In Fayaz's hometown of Munavalli, located in the Belagavi district, the news of the incident sparked outrage, leading to demonstrations by various organisations condemning the murder. The victim's family has been demanding that the accused be hanged to death and only then will their daughter's soul rest in peace.