Mangaluru, 2 May 

The Mangaluru Police have enforced prohibitory order across the city from Friday to 6 May amid escalating tension following the murder of a Hindutva activist.

The clampdown follows the murder of Suhas Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindutva activist, who was murdered by an unidentified group late Thursday evening within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru City.

Following the incident, police enforced prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the Mangaluru City Police limits.

The order pronounced by City Police Commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, who also serves as the additional district magistrate, prohibits public gatherings, meetings, processions, sloganeering, and the carrying of objects that could be used as weapons.

Barring a few incidents like stone pelting, the Dakshina Kannada district bandh called by Hindu outfits over the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Shetty was total and peaceful. All the commercial and educational institutions were closed, while banking sector functioned as usual.  

The order aims to prevent potential flare-ups and maintain public order after the incident.

Shetty, who was in his early thirties, was reportedly associated with various local Hindutva outfits and had several cases registered against him, including for assault and unlawful assembly.

Police have got information about the culprits, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Hithendra R said. "We have got to know about the culprits, their names and other details… If you see Mangaluru's history, none of this comes across as unnatural, and police will mercilessly take action."

The family of the deceased said that the last rites will be conducted in Bantwal after postmortem.

Bajrang Dal activist Shetty and four others were travelling in a fish-laden truck when they were stopped by a gang in the car and on a bike. They dragged Suhas out and attacked him with swords near Bajape Kinnipadavu on Thursday night.

Police suspected that Suhas's murder might be a revenge for the murder of Fazil of Suratkal, who was murdered by a gang just two days after Praveen Nettaru was murdered on 28 July, 2022. Fazil’s murder is also said to be a revenge for the murder of Nettaru, who was also an office bearer of BJP youth block.