What Led to the Murder of Suhas Shetty in Karnataka?

Mangaluru, May 3 (NationPress) The inquiry surrounding the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty (42) has uncovered that the act was executed as retaliation for the killing of Mohammad Fazil, who was reportedly slain by Shetty in 2022. The investigation has also indicated the participation of eight individuals in this heinous act.

Suhas Shetty, a former member of the Bajrang Dal, lost his life on May 1. He was the main suspect in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, a resident of Surathkal. Shetty and his accomplices were purportedly involved in Fazil's murder in a public setting on July 28, 2022, allegedly as a response to the assassination of BJP youth worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru.

Nettaru, a BJP activist, was brutally murdered during the peak of the 'hijab' controversy, which set off a chain of retaliatory killings and numerous stabbing incidents throughout Karnataka. At the time of his demise, Shetty had been out on bail.

During a media briefing on Saturday, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal revealed that Fazil’s brother, Adil Meharuf, had allegedly plotted to kill Suhas Shetty and financed the operation.

The arrested suspects have been identified as 29-year-old Abdul Safwan, a driver, and 28-year-old Niyaz, both from Shathigudde Pejawar village near Bajpe; 31-year-old Kalandar Shafi, hailing from Kursu Gudde, Kalavaru; 32-year-old Mohammad Muzammil, a Dubai-based salesman; 19-year-old Ranjith, a driver from Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district; 20-year-old Nagaraj, also from Kalasa, employed at a shamiyana store; 28-year-old Mohammad Rizwan; and Adil Meharuf from Mangaluru.

The Police Commissioner noted: "A total of eight suspects have been apprehended in the murder case of Suhas Shetty. Abdul Safwan is the principal suspect. He was previously attacked in 2023 and feared retribution from Shetty. Therefore, he resolved to eliminate Shetty first. Safwan contacted Fazil’s brother Adil and devised a plan to murder Shetty."

Adil is said to have arranged ₹5 lakh to fund Shetty's assassination. Accused individuals Ranjith and Nagaraj, who are friends of Niyaz, had stayed at Safwan’s residence for two days, according to Agarwal.

The suspects tracked Shetty’s activities on May 1, leading to the attack that night, the Commissioner elaborated.

Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, while addressing a joint press conference on Saturday alongside senior police officials and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who also oversees Mangaluru, announced the formation of an Anti-Communal Task Force to operate in Mangaluru and Udupi districts to avert communal violence.

“This task force, led by an officer of Inspector General (IG) rank, will focus on preventing communal unrest in the coastal region and is expected to commence operations within two weeks. It will work in coordination with the police department,” he stated.

He also underscored that stringent measures would be enforced against individuals making incendiary remarks.

Commenting on a recent mob lynching incident in Mangaluru, where a person was purportedly attacked for shouting "Pakistan Zindabad", HM Parameshwara stated, “In connection with the murder of Kerala resident Mohammad Ashraf, the police have detained 21 individuals. Action will be taken against those responsible. We will ensure that no one, regardless of their religion, is allowed to violate the law.”

He reaffirmed that such occurrences must not happen again in the region. “I will not permit the law and order situation in the district to decline,” he warned.

The police have formed five specialized teams to capture the assailants. All suspects are currently under interrogation and have been arrested from various locations within the Mangaluru district. Investigators have procured video evidence of the incident, which has proven essential in identifying and arresting the suspects, sources revealed.

Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje and Mangaluru BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowta have urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra has declared a compensation of ₹25 lakh for Suhas Shetty’s family.

Following Shetty’s murder, multiple stabbing incidents have been reported in the Mangaluru and Udupi districts of coastal Karnataka, leaving the situation tense and unstable.

The investigation revealed that the suspects initially rammed a goods vehicle into the car carrying Suhas Shetty. Subsequently, a group of attackers, who were tailing in a Swift car, emerged armed and savagely hacked him to death.