Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru/Chikkamagaluru
Bengaluru/Chikkamagaluru, May 5: Eight individuals arrested in connection with the murder of Hindu activist and rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty (42) have been remanded to police custody until May 9 by a local court in Mangaluru. The accused were produced before the magistrate by the Bajpe Police on Monday.
Suhas Shetty was murdered on May 1 in Mangaluru. The police have arrested Abdul Safwan (29), Niyaz (28), Kalandar Shafi (31), Mohammad Muzammil (32), Ranjith (19), Nagaraj (20), Mohammad Rizwan (28), and Adil Meharuf. Investigators suspect the involvement of more than 20 people and have launched a hunt for two more prime suspects.
According to Mangaluru police commissioner Anupam Agarwal, the murder was carried out as an act of revenge for the killing of Mohammad Fazil in 2022, for which Suhas Shetty was the prime accused. Fazil’s brother, Adil Meharuf, is said to have conspired to murder Shetty and arranged the funds for the crime. The accused allegedly held a planning meeting at a resort in Kalasa, Chikkamagaluru, on April 2.
Police sources also revealed that the accused adopted a "target killing" model. Reports suggest that local support was extended to the assailants, and videos showed two burqa-clad women allegedly assisting the attackers.
Meanwhile, Hindu Jagarana Vedike leader K T Ullas has accused the police of mishandling the case and claimed that "invisible forces" are involved. He alleged a funding of over Rs 50 lac for the murder and hinted at the involvement of a head constable from the minority community in Bajpe police station. Ullas further claimed that the inclusion of two Hindu accused in the case was a deliberate move to prevent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from taking over the probe.
The BJP and various right wing organisations have demanded an NIA investigation, alleging that fundamentalist elements were behind Shetty’s murder.
In response to the killing, Hindu outfits including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal called for a bandh in Chikkamagaluru on Monday, May 5. Despite the district administration denying permission for the protest, over 20 Hindu activists—including BJP district president Devaraj Shetty—were detained while attempting to march from Omkareshwara Temple to Hanumanthappa Circle.
Shops and commercial establishments remained shut in Mudigere taluk and rural areas near the Chikkamagaluru-Mangaluru border. In Chikkamagaluru city, police enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 as a precautionary measure due to the region’s communal sensitivity.
Former BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, speaking in Udupi, launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government. He claimed, “Suhas Shetty had not been involved in any cases in the past two years. The court, not the home minister, should decide whether he was a rowdy sheeter.” Kateel alleged that Shetty was killed for being a Hindu activist and accused the government of targeting Hindu workers.
He also criticized the formation of the state’s communal task force, claiming it was being used to arrest Hindu activists while protecting only one community. He alleged that Muslim leaders dominated a meeting with Home Minister G Parameshwara in Mangaluru, sidelining local MLAs.
“Hindu activists are being targeted while those who raise pro-Pakistan slogans are not even booked. This is nothing short of terrorism against Hindus,” Kateel alleged.
With tensions continuing to rise, Hindu organisations have warned of intensified protests if the government fails to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.