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A minor Dalit Hindu girl from Garag village in Dharwad district ended her life after enduring prolonged sexual exploitation, mental harassment and blackmail at the hands of a 25-year-old Muslim youth.
According to media reports and police investigation, the victim was lured into a relationship by Nayeem Baig Jorammanavar of Hanumanakoppa village. He groomed the minor girl before subjecting her to sexual exploitation and repeated mental harassment. The accused also pressured her to convert to Islam and wear a burqa. When the girl’s family came to know about the relationship, they strongly opposed it and counselled her to stay away from him.
After a period of separation, Nayeem Baig reportedly gave the girl a mobile phone to maintain secret contact. He later uploaded all the obscene photographs and explicit videos he had recorded of her on his social media accounts. The public circulation of the intimate content caused the minor girl severe mental distress, pushing her to take the extreme step.
The victim attempted suicide on May 8, 2026, by consuming insecticide. She was immediately admitted to the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI) in Hubballi, where she died on May 9, 2026 despite medical efforts.
Following a detailed investigation, Dharwad police arrested the main accused, 25-year-old Nayeem Baig Jorammanavar, from Shirahatti in Gadag district. A team led by Garag Sub-Inspector Praveen Gangol carried out the arrest. His associate, 22-year-old Sohail Mulla of Uppinabetageri village, was also taken into custody. Police recovered several photographs and explicit videos from the mobile phones of both the accused, which confirmed the sexual exploitation of the minor girl.
The incident has evoked strong reactions from Hindu organisations, which have described it as a case of “Love Jihad”. Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik visited Garag village, met the victim’s family and questioned the delay in police response. Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have announced plans to stage protests in Garag village, demanding strict punishment for the accused and all others involved in the case.
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) leader Hemavati T. said the accused had entered into a relationship with the girl and later harassed her, leading to her suicide. She alleged that the police had acted in favour of the youth. According to her, the FIR was registered only 15 days after the girl’s death, and that too after directions from the Superintendent of Police.
Hemavati T. further stated that the victim’s uneducated parents were being sidelined and that attempts were being made to hush up the case. She demanded an immediate, thorough and unbiased investigation along with strict action against all the guilty. She warned that if justice was not delivered, DSS office-bearers along with the victim’s parents would launch a dharna (sit-in protest) in front of the authorities.
The arrest of the two accused and recovery of digital evidence have brought some relief to the grieving family, but demands for a fast-track trial and stringent punishment continue to grow in the region. Local residents and community leaders have urged the administration to ensure complete justice for the minor victim.
