On Saturday (3rd January), a Hindu woman named Ranjitha was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Yellapur town in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka.
According to reports, the accused was identified as one Mohammed Rafiq. He had been harassing the victim for some time and coercing her into marrying him.
Ranjitha was a divorced woman with a child. She lived with her parents in Yellapur and worked at a government school.
Despite being pressured by Rafiq, Ranjitha repeatedly turned down his marriage proposals. This angered the accused, who then attacked the victim in broad daylight on Saturday.
Rafiq confronted Ranjitha when she was returning home from school. Following a heated argument, he stabbed her in the neck with a knife and fled the crime scene.
The incident sparked massive outrage in Yellapur. Hindu organisations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a bandh in the town on Sunday (4th January).
The situation remained tense and a large team of police personnel were deployed in Yellapur to prevent any untoward situation.
In the meantime, the police launched a search to nab the accused. On Sunday (4th January), the cops found the dead body of Rafiq hanging in a forest. According to a preliminary investigation, the accused committed suicide after killing Ranjitha.
