A tragic incident in Karnataka's Uttar Kannada district has resulted in the death of two individuals, following a case of alleged stalking and a rejected marriage proposal. The police have confirmed that a 30-year-old Dalit woman was murdered on Saturday, and the accused man was found dead, having died by suicide, early on Sunday.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The victim has been identified as Ranjitha Bhanasode, a resident of Yellapur. She worked as a cook at a local Anganwadi school. According to police reports, the horrific crime occurred as she was walking back to her home after finishing her work on Saturday. The accused, Rafique Imamsab, also from the same district, allegedly attacked her, stabbing her multiple times before fleeing from the scene.
Hours later, in a grim turn of events, the body of Rafique Imamsab was discovered in a forested area located approximately 4-5 kilometers from Yellapur town on Sunday morning. Preliminary investigations point towards death by suicide.
A Complicated History and Unwanted Advances
Investigating officers revealed that the two individuals knew each other from their school days. Ranjitha Bhanasode had been married 12 years ago to a man from Maharashtra but was separated. The accused, Imamsab, had also been in a previous relationship.
Veerabhadra Bhanasode, the elder brother of the victim, provided further context. He stated that his sister and Imamsab had reconnected around a year ago through a self-help group (SHG). Imamsab had stood as a guarantor for a loan taken by his then-girlfriend from the SHG. After that woman married someone else, Ranjitha, as an SHG member, began contacting Imamsab regarding the unpaid loan.
Veerabhadra claimed that for the last two to three months, Imamsab had been persistently harassing his sister, pressuring her to marry him. He alleged that Imamsab was even willing to convert to Hinduism for the marriage. However, Ranjitha consistently refused his proposals.
“About 15-20 days ago, I noticed she was getting calls from unknown numbers. When I answered, he spoke to me. I warned him, and he apologised,” Veerabhadra stated. He added that he later met Imamsab in person, received another apology, and was assured that the harassment would stop. Believing the matter was resolved, he did not inform other family members.
Community Reaction and Political Fallout
Following the spread of news about Ranjitha's murder on Saturday, several Hindu organisations called for a Yellapur bandh (shutdown). These groups termed the killing a fallout of ‘Love Jihad’, a controversial term often used to allege a conspiracy involving interfaith relationships. The police are continuing their investigation into the motives and circumstances surrounding both deaths.
The case has highlighted issues of stalking, violence against women, and the communal tensions that can arise from such personal tragedies in the region.
