A horrific incident in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district has led to communal tension and a political outcry. A 30-year-old Dalit woman was brutally stabbed to death on a public road in Yellapur town on Saturday. The accused, a man known to the victim, was later discovered dead on Sunday, escalating the situation.
Details of the Yellapur Murder Case
The victim has been identified as Ranjitha Bhanasode (30), a resident of Kalamma Nagar in Yellapur. She worked as a mid-day meal helper at a government school. The accused was Rafique Imamsab, who also lived in the same locality. Police confirmed the two had known each other since their school days.
According to police officials, the preliminary investigation suggests that Rafique was pressuring Ranjitha to marry him. After she refused his proposal, he allegedly attacked her with a knife in public on Saturday afternoon. The attack occurred when Ranjitha was returning home from work.
Ranjitha was married to Sachin Katera from Solapur, Maharashtra, around twelve years ago and had a ten-year-old son. She had been living separately from her husband and was staying with her family in Yellapur. Police stated that the accused frequently visited her house for meals, and the situation deteriorated when he began insisting on marriage, an idea opposed by both Ranjitha and her family.
Aftermath and Accusations of Love Jihad
The killing triggered immediate tension in the town. Several Hindu organisations called for a Yellapur bandh on Sunday and described the murder as a case of "Love Jihad". Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik claimed it was a "100 per cent case of Love Jihad where single women, widows or divorcees are targeted."
Local residents and Hindutva activists staged a protest outside the Yellapur police station, alleging a delay in the arrest of the accused. They warned that protests would continue until decisive action was taken.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, the body of Rafique Imamsab was found hanging from a tree in a forest near Yellapur on Sunday. His death has added another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Political Response and Heightened Security
The case has drawn political attention. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra is expected to meet Ranjitha's family on Sunday. In view of the volatile situation, police have deployed additional personnel and tightened security across Yellapur and its surrounding areas to prevent any further escalation of violence or communal unrest.
The incident underscores the sensitive interplay of crime, caste, and communal politics in the region, with authorities now tasked with investigating the twin deaths while maintaining public order.
