Suhas Shetty, a former Bajrang Dal member with a criminal background, was fatally attacked by unidentified assailants on Thursday night near Mangaluru, Karnataka. The assault, captured on video, occurred near a village on the city’s outskirts. Shetty later succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital.
Details of the Attack
According to police, the incident took place at 8:27 PM on May 1, while Shetty was travelling in a car with five others. Their vehicle was intercepted by two other cars, from which five to six men emerged and assaulted Shetty with a sword and other sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured on the road.
He was rushed to AJ Hospital, where he later died.
Tensions Rise; Security Tightened
Following Shetty’s death, large crowds of Hindu activists gathered outside the hospital, prompting a heavy deployment of police. BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Bharath Shetty, and leaders from Hindu organizations visited the hospital. MLA Bharath Shetty alleged a targeted killing, saying, “It’s no longer safe for Hindus in this state. Anti-social elements are being emboldened.”
In response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a 12-hour bandh in Mangaluru on Friday, from 6 AM to 6 PM. Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in sensitive areas, and additional forces have been deployed.
Government Responds with Urgency
Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said four police teams have been formed to investigate. “A senior ADGP-level officer has been dispatched to oversee the situation. We are treating this incident with utmost seriousness,” he said.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated that it was too early to determine the motive. “Some accused have been identified through video footage. The investigation will reveal whether this was a revenge killing,” he said.
A History of Violence
Suhas Shetty was the main accused in the 2022 murder of Mohammad Fazil, a 23-year-old Muslim man killed in Surathkal. Fazil’s murder was allegedly in retaliation for the killing of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru, which was linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
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Political Reactions
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, when asked about the incident, said he had been briefed by police and refrained from speculating on the motive. “If it was a planned murder, the investigation will reveal it. Anyone found guilty will be arrested,” he said.
He also criticised the BJP for politicising the incident, drawing comparisons with the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. “Has the Prime Minister visited Kashmir yet?” he asked, suggesting a double standard in the BJP’s response to violence.
Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the killing.
Appeals for Restraint
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao described the murder as “deeply saddening and shocking.” He cautioned against politicising the incident and urged leaders across party lines to exercise restraint. “The police have been given a free hand. No one should make provocative statements,” he said, noting that such violence had occurred under previous governments as well.
Rao also acknowledged another recent incident: the mob lynching of a man named Ashraf. “Communal hatred must not be allowed to take root,” he said, assuring the public that justice would be delivered impartially.
