Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (AB)
Mangaluru, Jun 14: Advocate S Balan, representing the All India Practising Lawyers Council, addressed a press conference in Mangaluru, raising serious concerns over alleged discrimination in the investigation of recent murders in the coastal region.
He said that three murders took place in the month of May — one of a Hindu youth and two Muslims. He categorically rejected the notion that all the killings were personal in nature, asserting that at least some had communal motives. "This is not merely personal, but a communal killing," he said regarding one of the cases.
He alleged the involvement of various mafias — land, sand, real estate, and massage parlour mafias — and said that the accused in these cases belonged to the same locality as the victims. “We even visited the houses of Rehman and Shafi,” he stated. He added that in one case, the accused had merely offered a lift in a pickup vehicle to the mother and brother of a victim, indicating there were no political or organizational links to the accused.
Regarding the murder of Suhas Shetty, Balan alleged that those arrested had earlier declared their intention to kill during a public meeting held earlier, adding, “This was a hate crime.”
He also claimed that in Ashraf’s case, the attackers had objected to Muslim youths watching cricket, and brutally assaulted him with chili powder on the instructions of a rowdy-sheeter. Balan maintained that Suhas’ murder was not communal but linked to past criminal extortion activities, where the deceased was allegedly involved in two prior murders.
Calling for fair investigation, Balan questioned the selective application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and handing over of cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “Why was only one case given to the NIA? If one is, all should be,” he demanded, alleging political misuse of the law.
He further stated that despite multiple hate speech cases against individuals (some having up to 30 cases), they still easily get bail. “There is suspicion that the legal amendment came on the demand of Amit Shah. UAPA is being misused against one community. If it is applied to all equally, hate speech and communal riots can be prevented,” he asserted.
Balan urged that the special task force not become a tool of misuse and warned that retaining the same police officials in one station for ten years gives them undue power. He also referred to a serious incident where four youths were stabbed following Suhas’ murder, saying it could derail Mangaluru’s development and create fear among minorities.
“Only by curbing hate speech can such violent acts be prevented,” he stressed.
Regarding the PFI (Popular Front of India), he said, “It is not a terrorist organization just by name. If one murder case is being given to NIA, the other two must be as well.”
On the incident where a Muslim youth was reportedly assaulted for watching cricket, he commented, “If someone raised pro-Pakistan slogans, it is wrong, but the accused did not say such things. Still, their bail was rejected.”
Responding to questions about Suhas Shetty’s home, Balan said, “No one called us to visit his house. Don’t ask why we didn’t go.”
Other notable attendees at the press conference included P K Majeed Khan, Angadi Chandru (Chikkamagaluru), Jayaram (Hassan), Wasim Sharif (Bengaluru), and Asma.