Dharwad, June 13: The Karnataka Police suspended a Circle Police Inspector (CPI) on Saturday in connection with the alleged love jihad case and the recent suicide of a minor Dalit girl in Dharwad.
The suspended CPI, Shivayogi Lohar, was ordered to be suspended by Dharwad’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Gunjan Arya. This action comes amid allegations of negligence in the investigation of the minor girl’s death, which has been linked to claims of love jihad and attempts to suppress the case.
A case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, but there have been concerns regarding delays in arrests and the investigation process. The police have faced accusations of failing to act appropriately and attempting to broker a settlement instead of conducting a thorough investigation.
This suspension follows increasing pressure from Hindu organizations and the victim’s family, who accused the police of ignoring the girl’s parents and attempting to cover up the case. Activists from the Bajrang Dal protested on Friday, demanding disciplinary action against the relevant authorities, leading to the suspension order the next day.
The case involves a minor Dalit girl from a village in Dharwad taluk, who allegedly consumed pesticide on May 8 after being mentally harassed by a Muslim youth. She was admitted to the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI) but succumbed to her injuries on May 9.
Following allegations of sexual exploitation and love jihad, the police arrested two suspects on Wednesday. The arrested individuals have been identified as 25-year-old Naim Beg Jormanar from Hanumanakoppa village and 22-year-old Sohel Mulla from Uppinabetageri village.
According to police sources, investigators recovered images and explicit videos from the suspects’ mobile phones, indicating the sexual exploitation of the minor.
Earlier this week, Pramod Muthalik, the leader of the Sri Ram Sena, questioned the police’s inaction more than a month after the girl’s death. He visited Garag village and met with the victim’s family.
Hindu nationalist organizations, including the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have announced protests against this incident. They are demanding strict action against the accused as well as those officials allegedly responsible for negligence in the investigation.
The police have stated that further investigation into the case is ongoing.
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