Bangalore:

Massive protests have broken out across Karnataka after the daughter of a Congress MP was stabbed to death in an alleged unsuccessful “love jihad” attempt. Neha Hiremath, 23, was stabbed seven times by Fayaz Khondunaik after she rejected his advances, police said.

The issue has become a sore point in Congress, with the BJP and the girl’s father claiming the case shows a breakdown in law and order in the state. The state government said the incident was a one-off incident and did not mean “love jihad” was taking place in the state.

Niha’s father, MP Niranjan Hiremath, said he had seen several other similar incidents and hoped it would not happen to anyone else.

“These things are happening. As we watch everywhere, their cruel nature is increasing. Young people are being led astray. Why are they going through such mental states? We lost our daughter. This shouldn’t happen to anyone else. body. This is our prayer. We see other people suffering like this and I feel like this love jihad problem is spreading,” he said.

“The gang had been plotting for a long time. They planned to either trap her or execute her. They kept threatening her in this context. However, the girl ignored their threats,” Mr Shiremas added.

Police have arrested the main accused and investigation is ongoing.

As protests calling for harsh punishment for Faiyaz raged across the state, his mother sought forgiveness and said what her son did was wrong.

“On behalf of my son, I seek forgiveness from everyone in Karnataka. I also seek forgiveness from the parents of the girl. She is also like my daughter. I am not different at all here. I know they must be very sad and I am equally sad , whoever did it was wrong,” Faiyaz’s mother Mumtaz said.

Neha Hiremath, daughter of MP Niranjan Hiremath, is a first-year M.Sc Computer Applications student at BV Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology, Hubballi. Officials said she had known her attacker, Fayyaz, for some time and that Fayyaz also studied with her at the university but later dropped out.

Neha was walking on campus when Faiyaz confronted her around 5 pm on Thursday. CCTV footage shows several words exchanged between Faiyaz before he attacked her. Neha fell to the ground after being stabbed the first time and Fayaz stabbed her at least six more times.

Faiyaz then ran away and some students chased him.