With the arrest of an accused from the Muslim community in Haveri district, the murder of a nurse, who went missing in the first week of March, has taken a communal colour now.
The crime that occurred on March 3 came to light on the Thursday after the post-mortem report confirmed death by strangulation, consequently resulting in the arrest of 28-year-old Niyaz Bennigere, a resident of Hale Veerapur in Hirekerur taluk of Haveri district.
His accomplices identified as Durgachari Badiger and Vinayak Pujar are still at large.
The 22-year-old victim, Swati Byadgi, was a native of Masur village in Rattihalli taluk. She worked as a staff nurse at a private hospital in Ranebennur.
Swati went incommunicado on March 3 and her family members filed a missing complaint with Rattihalli Police Station on March 7.
Meanwhile, on March 6, a woman’s body was found in the Tungabhadra river near Pattepur village under Halagere Police limits.
As the body was decomposed, the police carried out the burial after filing a report and conducting post-mortem.
After the missing complaint was filed by Swati’s family, the police authorities identified the body as of her’s by comparing photographs. This was later confirmed by her parents.
After the post-mortem confirmed death by strangulation, the police verified her call records, which led them to Niyaz, said to be her boyfriend, leading to his arrest.
Superintendent of Police Anshukumar Srivastava told presspersons that Niyaz had called Swati to Suvarna Park in Ranebennur. He had also called his friends Durgesh and Vinayak there.
“As negotiations over their marriage failed, Niyaz and his friends took her to an abandoned school building near Kabbinakanti Mutt at Rattihalli, where they strangulated her with a fabric. After confirming her death, they ferried the body in Vinayak’s vehicle and threw it into the Tungabhadra from the bridge between Kusagatti and Nandigudi villages, the same evening,” he said.
“The Love Jihad network is active in the State and ever since the Congress government came to power, the safety of women has deteriorated”Basavaraj Bommai,BJP MP
According to the police, Niyaz and Swati were in a relationship for the last two years, while Niyaz recently got engaged to a girl from his community. While Swati was insisting on marriage, Niyaz was not ready for it and wanted Swati to sever ties so that he could go ahead with his marriage, the police said.
Swati used to live with her mother and sister and the story of her murder went viral on social media with Hindutva outfits terming it Love Jihad.
Meanwhile, Swati’s mother described her daughter as innocent and demanded that all the accused should be to brought book and given strict punishment.
BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has in his post on X condemned the murder in strong terms and said that the Love Jihad network is active in the State.
Ever since the Congress government came to power, the safety of women has deteriorated, he said and demanded appropriate compensation to the victim’s family.
Published – March 14, 2025 09:28 pm IST
