Mangaluru: A chilling twist has emerged in the investigation into the brutal murder of Suhas Shetty, a Hindu activist killed in Bajpe on the night of May 1. City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal revealed in a press briefing that the gruesome crime was not random, but rather a well-orchestrated act of revenge, rooted in a chain of communal and personal rivalries dating back to 2023.
According to police findings, the primary accused, identified as Abdul Safwan, was allegedly the mastermind behind the murder. Safwan, who survived a violent assault in 2023 allegedly carried out by Suhas Shetty’s associates, had harboured a personal vendetta. That grudge ultimately culminated in Shetty’s murder, which was executed with the help of Adil Mehroof, the younger brother of Fazil, a Muslim youth who was himself murdered last year in what is widely regarded as a communal retaliation killing.
A Cycle of Communal Violence and Revenge
The shocking revelations by the Mangaluru police suggest that the murder was not only personal but also communal in nature, and possibly part of a broader pattern of retaliatory violence in coastal Karnataka — a region increasingly plagued by such incidents.
In 2023, Safwan had allegedly been attacked by two individuals, Prashant and Dhanraj, both friends of Suhas Shetty. Though Safwan survived, he feared he would be targeted again. “Believing his life was in imminent danger and fueled by a thirst for vengeance,” Commissioner Agarwal said, “Safwan hatched a plan to eliminate Suhas.”
What made this plot even more concerning was Safwan’s collaboration with Adil Mehroof, whose elder brother Fazil had been murdered in a similarly brutal attack last year. Police now believe Adil was motivated both by revenge and financial influence, and he offered Rs 5 lakh to execute Suhas Shetty’s killing, out of which Rs 3 lakh was paid in advance to Safwan’s group.
Police revealed that Suhas Shetty was being closely monitored in the days leading up to his killing. The murder was the result of weeks of planning. Safwan reportedly assembled a group of accomplices that included individuals with no prior connection to the region — a tactic used to avoid suspicion.
The arrested individuals include:
· Abdul Safwan (29) – Driver, resident of Bajpe Kinnipadav
· Niaz (28) – Domestic worker, resident of Shantigudde, Pejawar
· Mohammad Muzzamil (32) – Resident of Kenjaru
· Kalandar Shafi (31) – From Kalawar
· Ranjit (19) – Driver, originally from Kalasa
· Nagaraj (20) – Shamiana worker, also from Kalasa
· Mohammad Rizwan (28) – Resident of Jokatte
· Adil Mehroof – Brother of slain youth Fazil
Ranjit and Nagaraj had reportedly been staying at Safwan’s house in the days preceding the murder, during which time they conducted surveillance on Suhas’s movements. On May 1, at around 9:30 PM, a group of six individuals intercepted Suhas and fatally attacked him with deadly weapons, leaving him dead on the spot.
Police sources also confirmed that more suspects may be involved, and the investigation is expanding to trace all links in the conspiracy.
New Task Force to Tackle Communal Tensions
In light of the recent surge in communal tensions in coastal Karnataka, State Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara announced the creation of a special task force exclusively for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Speaking at a press conference, he said, “This Anti-Communal Task Force will function independently, similar to the Anti-Naxal Force, and will coordinate closely with local police units.”
The minister emphasised the government’s commitment to curbing hate crimes, communal violence, and inflammatory speech. He stated that police across the coastal belt have been instructed to take stern legal action against anyone attempting to incite religious hatred or disrupt law and order through provocative statements.
“This task force is a much-needed step to prevent further escalation,” he said. “Communal harmony is being disrupted by organized networks, and we are now equipping our forces to break that cycle.”
Tensions on the Rise in Coastal Karnataka
The coastal districts, including Mangaluru, Udupi, and surrounding areas, have become increasingly sensitive in recent years, witnessing several communal incidents involving murders, provocations, and retaliations from fringe elements on both sides of the religious divide. The Suhas Shetty case appears to be the latest link in a chain of communal tit-for-tat killings.
Civil society groups and political observers have expressed deep concern over the growing radicalization among youth in the region, as well as the role of social media in spreading communal hate. Law enforcement agencies are also investigating whether this murder has any links to larger networks or ideological groups operating behind the scenes.
The Commissioner stated that further arrests are likely as digital forensic teams analyze phone records, financial transactions, and social media activity connected to the suspects. The police have already launched a manhunt for other individuals who may have played a supporting role in the planning or execution of the crime.
In the meantime, Section 144 has been imposed in sensitive zones of Mangaluru and Bajpe, and additional security forces have been deployed to maintain calm. Senior officers are holding meetings with community leaders in an attempt to prevent further escalation.
