Bengaluru: A former Bajrang Dal member, Suhas Shetty, who also had a criminal record, was attacked by unidentified men on Thursday night in Mangaluru, Karnataka. He later died from his injuries at a private hospital. The attack occurred at 8.27 pm on May 1, while Shetty was travelling in a car with five others. Their vehicle was reportedly intercepted by two other cars, from which five to six assailants emerged.
He was rushed to the nearby AJ Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Following his death, a large number of Hindu activists gathered outside the hospital, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel amid rising tensions. “A Hindu worker was murdered today. It’s no longer safe for Hindus in this state. The police must act swiftly. Anti-social elements are being encouraged, leading to such incidents. This appears to be a planned murder. Another person in the car was also injured,” said MLA Bharath Shetty.
In response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s local unit has called for a bandh in Mangaluru on Friday, from 6 am to 6 pm. Security has been tightened around the hospital and other sensitive areas. Section 144 of the CrPC has also been put into effect in the area, even as the investigation is underway. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the government was treating the incident with urgency. “Four teams have been formed. I have sent a senior ADGP-level officer to ensure peace is maintained, and additional forces have also been deployed,” he said.
“We don’t yet know if this was a revenge killing. The investigation will reveal more details. We’ve identified a few of the accused from visuals,” he said. “The body will be taken to Bantwal taluk in an ambulance. Peace is everyone’s responsibility.” Suhas Shetty was the prime accused in the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Mohammad Fazil, a Muslim man killed near a clothing store in Surathkal on July 28.
Fazil was allegedly murdered in retaliation for the killing of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru two days earlier, reportedly by members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). When Chief Minister Siddaramaih was asked about the incident, he deflected saying he didn’t know the details of the murder yet and reiterated that an Assistant Director General of Police was sent to the location.
“Anyone who is the accused will be arrested. Don’t know if it was a pre-planned murder or not; only the investigation can tell,” he added. Taking a jibe at the Opposition, Siddaramaih said: “BJP keeps finding such incidents to do politics. Kashmir was attacked 15 days ago, but what does the BJP say? Has the Prime Minister visited there yet? Is that not a failure of security or a lapse? I know a person who was there and he said no cops were present.”
Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha MP Brijesh Chowta wrote to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting for a National Investigation Agency probe into the murder. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao called the incident “deeply saddening and shocking,” and urged political leaders across parties to avoid using such tragedies for political gain.