Mangaluru: In a strongly worded press conference on May 3, BJP Dakshina Kannada district president Satish Kumpala expressed grave doubts over the integrity of the police investigation into the recent murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, suggesting that there may be a conspiracy to mislead the probe and shield the real culprits.
Addressing the media, Kumpala questioned the Karnataka police’s narrative that the crime was carried out by hired killers. “The Commissioner of Police has stated that contract killers were behind the act. Among those arrested, two have Hindu names. This raises a strong suspicion that the investigation is being deliberately misdirected,” he alleged.
Kumpala further criticised the state’s Home Minister for holding a press conference about the investigation only after meeting with Muslim community leaders, while allegedly ignoring Hindu leaders, MPs, and MLAs from the region. “In the case of Fazil’s murder [a previous high-profile killing], the police released images of the accused without masks. But in Suhas’s case, the faces of the accused are being concealed. Are the police afraid of something?” he questioned.
He claimed that the police had prior warnings about the threat to Suhas Shetty’s life. “A month before the murder, there were posts on social media threatening to kill Suhas. These were not taken seriously. Instead of investigating the threats, the police reportedly harassed Suhas himself. Even after his death, no action was taken against those who celebrated the murder with social media statuses,” Kumpala said.
Raising further questions about the investigation, Kumpala said, “The attack happened in a densely populated area. How could the killers hack someone to death so brazenly unless they had inside help? We suspect that certain individuals from the Bajpe police station may have assisted the perpetrators.”
Kumpala also noted the presence of two unidentified women at the crime scene and criticized the police for failing to trace or arrest them. “We have no confidence that a fair investigation can be conducted by the state police. The case must be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and details about those who supported the murder must be made public,” he demanded.
MLA Bharath Shetty demanded resignation of speaker
MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty has questioned why Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader made a statement that the family of Mohammed Fazil, who was murdered in Surathkal in 2022, was not involved in the Suhas Shetty murder case, even before the police investigation was complete.
Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader had stated, “Fazil’s father and brother called me and told me that they are not connected to the Suhas Shetty murder. They have also assured cooperation with the investigation.”
Questioning this, MLA Bharath Shetty said, “Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal have stated in a press conference that Adil Mehroof, the brother of the murdered Mohammed Fazil, is involved in the Suhas murder case. By saying that Fazil’s family has no role in this case, the Speaker has attempted to mislead the investigation.”
“Khader himself has stated to the media that he spoke with Fazil’s brother. How did Khader speak with him when he is in police custody? How did the police allow him to speak with the accused? There is a suspicion that he is intervening to protect the accused and is attempting a conspiracy to derail the investigation. To conduct an impartial investigation into this matter, it is necessary for the Speaker to resign. Therefore, he should resign from his post and uphold the dignity of the Assembly Speaker’s chair,” he urged.
“Who are the women who recorded the Suhas murder on their mobile phones? In that video, the voices of two women talking can be heard. There were two more women at the scene of the incident. These four women should be subjected to investigation. Police should be careful to prevent the destruction of evidence and conduct an urgent investigation,” he demanded.
Congress rule is like Taliban: Former MP
Former Member of Parliament Pratap Simha has launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, holding it responsible for what he described as a growing wave of targeted violence against Hindus in the state. Citing recent incidents such as the suicide of Kodagu resident Vinay Somaiya—who allegedly took his life after naming a Congress MLA in a note—and the recent murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, Simha warned that the state is descending into lawlessness under the current administration.
“In the past, I had said that if Congress comes to power, Karnataka would resemble a Taliban-style rule. Today, that prophecy is unfolding before our eyes,” Simha claimed. He went on to allege that Hindu activists are being systematically targeted and killed, and that this pattern would continue unabated as long as the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government remains in power. “The current administration gives importance only to appeasement. Law and justice seem to be sidelined,” he added.
Simha’s comments come amidst rising political and communal tensions following the murder of Suhas Shetty, a well-known Hindu activist who was hacked to death in Bajpe, Mangaluru. The incident has triggered widespread protests from BJP workers and Hindu organizations across coastal Karnataka.
Echoing Simha’s sentiments, senior BJP leader and MLA Araga Jnanendra also criticized the Congress government for what he called a policy of “blatant Muslim appeasement.” Speaking at a protest rally in Tirthahalli on Friday evening, Jnanendra accused the government of failing to protect Hindus and being complicit through its inaction. “In the case of Suhas Shetty’s murder, the police have failed to arrest the accused. Yet, in another recent case involving the death of a person from another community, swift arrests were made,” he said.
