Police in Mangaluru, Karnataka, have enforced prohibitory orders across the city under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, effective till May 6, following the gruesome murder of Suhas Shetty—prime accused in the 2022 Mohammed Fazil murder case.
Suhas Shetty, believed to be in his early thirties and associated with several local Hindutva outfits, was brutally attacked and killed by at least five assailants armed with machetes and swords on a busy city road. The attack, captured on CCTV, shocked residents and authorities alike. Shetty had several criminal cases pending against him, including charges of assault and unlawful assembly.
Notably, Shetty was the main accused in the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Mohammed Fazil, a case seen by many as a retaliatory killing in response to the earlier murder of BJP youth worker Praveen Nettaru.
Police said the killing of Shetty appeared to be premeditated, although the exact motive remains under investigation. In response, law enforcement swiftly imposed restrictions on public gatherings, meetings, processions, and the carrying of potential weapons within Mangaluru city limits to prevent any flare-up in communal tensions.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara condemned the incident, calling it a “gruesome murder,” and assured that four special teams have been formed to track down and arrest the suspects. He emphasized that the state would not compromise on law and order and confirmed that senior police officials, including the ADGP (Law and Order), had been dispatched to Mangaluru. Additional forces have also been deployed to maintain peace in the region.
This is the second violent incident reported in the area within a week. On April 27, Ashraf, a resident of Wayanad in Kerala, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob near Mangaluru following a dispute during a cricket match. A preliminary probe suggests the man shouted “Pakistan Zindabad” while carrying a gunny bag across the field, leading to the assault. Despite bystanders’ attempts to intervene, Ashraf was fatally attacked with wooden sticks and kicks. Police initially detained 25 individuals, later arresting 20 after further investigation.
These two consecutive killings have heightened tensions in the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada region, prompting authorities to act swiftly to prevent further unrest.
