Karnataka: Man in Inter-Faith Relationship Killed, Cops Probe Hindu 'Activists'

In the complaint, Mullah's mother has alleged that her son was murdered by members of a right-wing outfit.

Representational image of a crime scene.

(Photo: iStock)

A 24-year-old man identified as Arbaz Mullah was reportedly killed in Karnataka’s Belagavi district for being in a relationship with a Hindu girl.

Mullah’s beheaded and mutilated body was discovered on Tuesday, 28 September, on the railway tracks. Moreover, the post-mortem examination report and investigations have revealed that the youth was murdered, The Indian Express reported police sources as saying.

Involvement of a right-wing outfit is suspected by the police and all accused have been identified, the report added.

In the complaint filed with the police, his mother according to reports had alleged that her son was murdered by the Hindu's girl's father and local Ram Sena leader Maharaj.

“After the victim’s mother filed a complaint, we registered a case under IPC 302 (murder). The case will be transferred to the Belagavi district police for further probe since the death was not as a result of the victim being hit by a train," stated the Superintendent of Police (Railways) Siri Gowri, Indian Express quoted.

What Had Happened

A resident of Azam Nagar, Mullah had gone missing on Wednesday, 27 September, and his body was later discovered on the railway tracks in the Khanapura taluk of the district.

As per initial investigations, Mullah was summoned by some people and there was a fight before he was killed, The Indian Express reported.

While the police is still trying ascertain the exact sequence of events, Arbaz Mullah’s mother Najeema Shaikh spoke to the news agency and stated, "Our family and the girl’s family were aware of the relationship. We were living in Khanapur (a taluk in Belagavi)… I spoke to the girl’s mother then to stop her from meeting Arbaz and I told Arbaz the same too. However, we were being threatened by their family, so we recently relocated to Belagavi city."

To solve the issue, the Hindu girl's family is believed to have taken help from local leaders of the Sri Ram Sene, Mullah's family members told The News Minute.

Mullah, His Mother Receive Threats, Warnings from Sri Ram Sene

Following this, Mullah and his mother reportedly began receiving threats from the group. The members of the outfit also warned Mullah against meeting the girl.

On Sunday, 26 September, Mullah and his mother went to the girls residence in Khanapur to arrive at a compromise. Mulla also had according to the relative gone to talk with the girl's family two days later on Tuesday, 28 September. Mullah was murdered and his body was dumped on railway tracks on the same night, the relative alleged.

On Sunday, there was a compromise between the family and the man. Ram Sena leaders had called the mother to talk. They went to Khanapur and they spoke at the bus stand, where photos of the two were deleted from Arbaaz’s mobile phone, his phone was broken and thrown. They also warned him of consequences if he continued to talk to the woman. They had also demanded money.

Mullah relative told TNM

The relative added that Mullah went to Khanapur on Tuesday as he was getting numerous threat calls from the Hindu outfit. He reportedly also sold his car and got Rs 90,000 cash to pay off to the group

'When Found, Mullah's Body Was Dismembered Into Two Parts, His Hands Were Tied'

On Tuesday, he left around 5 pm to speak to them and later we received a call from the railway police that a body had been found. His body had been dismembered into two parts, and his hands were tied, so we told the police that it could not be a suicide, it must be a murder

Mullah relative told TNM

According to The News Minute, the police have filed an FIR against three accused, including the Hindu girl’s father Kumbar, the local Ram Sena leader, Maharaj and another accused identified as Birje.

All the three have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for the alleged crime.

Speaking to The News Minute, a police official from Belagavi said that the case has not yet been officially transferred from Railway police to Belagavi District Police.

Meanwhile, the girl’s family members has been detained for questioning, police sources were quoted as saying.

(With inputs from The Indian Express and The News Minute)