Hailing from Vidyanagar in Hubballi district, Karnataka, the Neha Hiremath murder case remains a focal point for regional outrage. Demands for the harshest penalty resonate for the offender Faiyaz Kondikoppa while political turmoil escalates. Faiyaz's father implores Neha's family for forgiveness, advocating for the maximum sentence for his son.
Baba Saheb Subani, a schoolteacher and father of 23-year-old Faiyaz, was dumbfounded by his son's actions. Upon learning about the atrocious murder on Thursday evening, he found himself devastated. With moist eyes, he declared that his son deserves a punishment that would deter anyone from committing such a crime in the future.
Subani mentioned that for the past six years, he and his wife have lived apart, with Faiyaz residing with his mother. Whenever Faiyaz needed money, he would ask him. Their last conversation was about three months ago. They were also informed eight months prior by Neha Hiremath's family that Faiyaz was harassing their daughter. The two were in a relationship and loved each other.
Faiyaz's father expressed his desire for his son to marry Neha
With folded hands and tears rolling down his cheeks, he lamented, "Faiyaz told me he wanted to marry her, but I sternly refused. I apologize to the people of Karnataka and beseech their forgiveness. My son has done wrong and will be punished by the law, which I fully support. He has brought shame on me and my town. Please forgive me," the repentant father begged.
Neha's father insists she was not involved with anyone
Distressed by his son's conduct, Subani stated that such atrocities against women must cease. The victim's family clamors for a death sentence to appease Neha's spirit. Her father, Niranjan Hiremath, claimed that his daughter was not in a relationship with Faiyaz. When she rejected his proposal, the spurned Faiyaz, in a fit of rage, stabbed her.
Source: aajtak
Faiyaz's mother Mumtaz denies love jihad allegations
A senior police official reported that Faiyaz had repeatedly stabbed Neha. During interrogation, he claimed to have been in a relationship with her, but she had been avoiding him for some time. His mother rebutted the love jihad angle, affirming that Neha and Faiyaz were indeed in love.
Mumtaz expresses remorse to the people of Karnataka
Mumtaz conveyed her heartfelt apologies to all the residents of Karnataka and to the bereaved parents, citing her son's actions as wrong and deserving of punishment.
'Neha and Faiyaz weren't just friends; they loved each other,' states Mumtaz
Mumtaz described Neha as a good girl, and despite her advice for Faiyaz to focus on his career first, his love for Neha was evident. According to her, both of them should have aimed for the IAS exams.
Discover the timeline of the Neha murder case...
The incident occurred on April 18, 2024, around 4:45 PM, at BVB College, Hubballi, Karnataka, as examinations proceeded. Neha, a 24-year-old MCA student, made her first college appearance post-recovery from typhoid. She finished her exam and was chatting with her mother on the phone when merely five minutes later, she faced a tragic fate.
The incident captured by the college's CCTV showed Neha leaving the exam center when suddenly, a boy confronted her. He attempted to speak with her, but she resisted, moving backward. In the midst of her hesitation and denial, the boy produced a large knife from his pocket and attacked. Neha, still recovering and vulnerable, was caught off-guard.
She fell to the ground, and the assailant started stabbing her neck repeatedly. Despite her defense efforts, he inflicted multiple knife wounds. Before others could react to the horrifying scene, the assailant fled but was soon captured and turned over to the police.
The perpetrator was Faiyaz Kondikoppa, a fellow BCA student with Neha. The aftermath left the students and faculty in shock. Despite rushing Neha to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries approximately two kilometers away. Police, with the aid of students, apprehended Faiyaz, leaving behind a chilling narrative of obsession and murder. Neha's father, a local councilor with the Congress party, reported that Faiyaz had been troubling Neha for months, seeking a friendship she did not reciprocate despite warnings to stay away.
This appalling college murder not only shook Hubballi but also sent tremors across Karnataka. Protests erupted demanding justice for Neha. Controversy sparked about the state's law and order, causing the Chief Minister to clarify that the murder was due to personal reasons and was not directly related to law enforcement issues.
Police sources say that Faiyaz, originally from Savadatti in Belgaum district, is the son of a government schoolteacher. Having failed his exams six months ago, he ceased attending college. However, as Neha returned after her illness, Faiyaz followed her, culminating in the deadly assault.
