Youth found beheaded in Karnataka over an alleged interfaith love affair

In yet another shocking incident, the body of a 24-year-old youth was found beheaded on the railway tracks near Khanapur in Karnataka's Belagavi district. The incident came to light early morning on Saturday.

The mutilated body of the victim was reportedly found on railway tracks by local farmers and alerted the railway station master, and a team of Railway police personnel visited the spot, says a report by The Hindu.

The victim was identified as Arbaz Aftab Mulla (24) by villagers, says the report. The report quoted Nawaz's relatives saying to the investigating officers that Nawaz had received death threats from some right-wing leaders in Khanapur. Another relative informed an officer that Nawaz had been missing since Friday.

The report also says that Police are suspecting that the victim was killed by members of some right-wing organisation on charges of 'love jihad'.

As per a report by The Cognate, kin of the deceased told that Arbaz had received a call on 28 September from a Hindutva group named Ram Sena and he went to meet them.

Hours after, railway cops called them and informed them that Arbaz died of suicide and the body is on the railway track, says the report. However, the mother of the boy in her complaint has alleged that the love affair between her son and a Hindu girl could have lead to his son's death.

According to the report by The Cognate, The family of the deceased has also alleged that Arbaz was murdered by men associated with Hindu extremist outfit Ram Sena who had threatened him for his love affair with a Hindu girl.

However, after an initial probe by Railway police, the case was transferred to the District police.

"We are looking into all angles of the offence and a team has been formed to trace and apprehend the culprits," Lakshman Nimbaragi, SP told The Hindu.

The FIR lodged at the railway police station in Belagavi names three people as accused including the father of the girl, Maharaj and Birje.

Meanwhile, Tipu Sultan Sangharsh Samiti (TSS), held a protest demonstration demanding action against the culprits saying that police have sufficient evidence to give strict punishment to the men who murdered Arbaz. The group submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

TSS District President Arif Katgari also sought a ban on Ram Sena, saying it was an extremist outfit that indulges in communal violence against minorities.

Social media also erupted in outrage over the heinous act as people started a hashtag #justiceforArbaaz.