Yellapur, Karnataka – January 4, 2026
In a shocking incident that has ignited communal tensions in Uttara Kannada district, 30-year-old Dalit woman Ranjita Bansode was brutally stabbed to death on Saturday evening after rejecting repeated marriage proposals from her childhood acquaintance, Rafique Imamsab. The accused, a local resident, allegedly took his own life hours later by hanging in a nearby forest, leaving the community reeling from grief and outrage.
The attack occurred around 5 p.m. in Kalamma Nagar, a residential area in Yellapur town, as Bansode was walking home from her job as a midday meal cook at a local government school. Eyewitnesses reported a heated argument between the two, who had known each other since school days, escalating into violence when Imamsab pulled out a knife and inflicted multiple stab wounds to her neck and upper body. Bansode, a divorced mother of a 10-year-old son living with her sister's family after separating from her husband in Maharashtra, succumbed to her injuries en route to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) hospital.
Police sources indicate that Imamsab had been harassing Bansode for the past two to three months, persistently pressuring her to marry him despite her firm rejections and warnings from her family. The two had reconnected about a year ago through a self-help group (SHG) involving a loan dispute linked to Imamsab's former girlfriend, though Bansode's elder brother, Veerabhadra Bansode, had confronted him around 15-20 days prior, urging him to cease contact after noticing suspicious calls on her phone. Imamsab, who was reportedly willing to convert to Hinduism to win her approval, had promised to stop but allegedly continued his advances, culminating in the fatal confrontation.
Yellapur police swiftly registered a case against Imamsab under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint filed by Bansode's sister, Akshata Bansode. A senior officer at the scene described the motive as stemming from "unrequited advances," adding that while the pair shared a distant school acquaintance, there was no evidence of a romantic relationship. Early Sunday morning, farmers discovered Imamsab's body hanging from a tree in a forested area 4-5 km from Yellapur town, with preliminary investigations pointing to suicide as an act of remorse following the crime. A large police contingent has been deployed to maintain order amid rising tensions.
The victim's family expressed profound devastation. "He kept calling her despite our warnings; we thought it was over after he apologized," Veerabhadra Bansode told reporters, his voice breaking as he recounted the harassment that had plagued his sister since her return from Solapur, Maharashtra. Akshata Bansode echoed this in her police complaint, detailing how Imamsab's persistence had escalated after Bansode's divorce, turning from childhood familiarity into relentless coercion.
Bansode's death has triggered widespread protests and communal friction. Dalit leaders and supporters organized a somber procession with her mortal remains through Hubballi on Sunday, demanding justice and stricter enforcement of anti-atrocity laws. Meanwhile, Hindu organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have labeled the killing a case of "Love Jihad"—a term alleging targeted romantic enticement across religious lines—and called for a town-wide bandh in Yellapur today, drawing hundreds to rally in front of the local police station with slogans against perceived police inaction. Demonstrators, including Bansode's brother, clashed verbally with authorities, amplifying calls for a thorough probe into interfaith harassment patterns. Local MLA Shivaram Hebbar visited the family to offer condolences but refrained from commenting on the communal allegations.
As investigations continue, the incident underscores deeper societal issues of gender-based violence, caste discrimination, and inter-community relations in rural Karnataka. Authorities have appealed for calm, assuring a fair inquiry, while women's rights groups have urged greater awareness on consent and stalking prevention. Funeral rites for Bansode were held amid heavy security, with her young son now under family care.
This report is based on verified accounts from multiple sources. Updates will follow as new details emerge.
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