The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will now undertake the probe into the murder of former Bajrang Dal activist Suhas Shetty. The probe was assigned to the agency by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Shetty was murdered last month by a group of assailants on May 1 near Kinnipadavu in Karnataka’s Mangaluru. He was the prime accused in the 2022 murder of a 23-year-old man named Mohammed Fazil.
According to the police, Shetty was murdered by five to six men, who intercepetd his car and attacked him with swords and sharp weapons. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. Shetty’s murder led to widespread unrest in Dakshina Kannada, which prompted police to suspend public transport and enforce prohibitory orders. Political groups had also been demanding central investigation into Shetty’s murder.
On June 3, the Mangaluru police arrested one person in connection with the Hindu activist’s murder. The accused, Abdul Razak, hails from Bajpe and currently resided in Kenjar. He has been accused of conspiring in the murder with themain accused and helping him in absconding, Times Of India reported.
According to the report, the 59-year-old accused conspired with his son and son-in-law at his residence. The police arrested eight persons in connection with the murder after May 1, later arresting three more accused. The total number of arrests now stand at 12.
Shetty was a well-known figure in coastal Karnataka, and had a long-standing association with Hindutva orgamisations. However, he was considered a rowdy-sheeter and had five criminal cases against him.
Shetty’s name came to attention in 2022 after he was accused in the murder of Fazil. Notably, Fazil was murdered just two days after BJP Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettary was killed in Sullia, which intensified tensions across coastal Karnataka. The local Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders had accused the state government of pressuring Mangalur police to shield the real culprits involved in Shetty’s murder.
