India: Hindu Woman Killed in Stabbing After Rejecting Marriage Proposal from Muslim Man

Image: Jihad Watch

A 30-year-old Dalit woman, Ranjitha Bhanasode, was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight in Yellapur town of Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district on Saturday, January 3. The attack allegedly took place at the hands of a man known to her, sending shockwaves through the region.

The accused, identified as Rafique Imamsab, was found dead the following day. Police said his body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forested area near Yellapur on Sunday. Authorities are treating his death as an apparent suicide, though further investigation is underway to ascertain all circumstances surrounding the incident.

The murder sparked widespread outrage and protests across Yellapur, with several Hindu organisations calling for a bandh on Sunday. Protesters termed the killing a case of “love jihad,” alleging that the woman was targeted due to her religious identity. The bandh disrupted normal life in the town as tensions remained high.

According to police officials, Ranjitha and the accused had known each other since their school days and had maintained contact over the years. Preliminary investigations suggest that Rafique had been persistently pressuring her to marry him. Despite her repeated refusals and objections raised by her family, he allegedly continued to insist on the proposal.

On Saturday afternoon, while Ranjitha was returning home from her workplace, the accused allegedly confronted her in a public area and attacked her with a knife after she again refused to agree to marriage. Ranjitha worked as a mid-day meal helper at a government school and was known in the community for supporting her family through her work.

Police further revealed that Ranjitha had married in Solapur, Maharashtra, around 12 years ago and had a 10-year-old son. She later separated from her husband and returned to Yellapur, where she was living with her family at the time of the incident.

In the complaint filed by her sister, Akshata Bansode, it was alleged that Rafique had repeatedly harassed Ranjitha with marriage demands despite clear resistance from her and their family members. The family has demanded strict action and justice for the killing.

Reacting to the incident, Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik described the murder as a deliberate targeting of vulnerable women. “It is a 100 percent case of love jihad where single women, widows or divorcees are targeted,” he told reporters, reiterating his organisation’s long-standing claims.

Meanwhile, police have appealed for calm and stated that the investigation is ongoing, urging people not to jump to conclusions until all facts are established.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)