‘Mangaluru is full of fear and tension’: BJP leader R Ashoka on Suhas Shetty murder

BENGALURU: Opposition leader (LoP) and BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said that the murder of Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru has created fear and tension in the city. Ashoka and state president Vijayendra will visit Mangaluru to meet the family of Suhas Shetty.

Speaking at the press conference, R Ashoka said, “After Suhas Shetty’s murder, Mangaluru is filled with fear and tension. Similar incidents happened in 2013 when Siddaramaiah was CM, 36 Hindus were killed. People shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ from Vidhana Soudha to small towns. Suhas Shetty was attacked because he didn’t have any weapons, and he was brutally killed by those who got that information. Siddaramaiah says there’s no need to fight Pakistan. The government takes no action against anti-national activities. Those who are loyal are being targeted. I don’t know how many more Hindu activists will be killed. They shout ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ because the government doesn’t stop them. After Siddaramaiah became CM, you saw what happened in Chamarajanagar, they even cut off a cow’s udder”.

He blamed the Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not taking strong action against those involved in such incidents. He also accused the state government of ignoring anti-national slogans and activities.

He further added, “Dinesh Gundu Rao said that ‘even if Pakistan scolds us, it doesn’t matter what Pakistan says’. They have buffalo skin. The entire police department is a Congress office. Now, I and BJP state president Vijayendra are going to Mangaluru to meet Suhas Shetty’s family”.

Hindu activist and history-sheeter Suhas Shetty, the main accused in the Fazil murder case, was killed by a group of unidentified men in Mangaluru around 8:30 pm on Thursday, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said.

Suhash Shetty, who was travelling in a vehicle along with Sanjay, Prajwal, Anvith, Latheesh, and Shashank, was intercepted by a group of assailants travelling in a four-wheeler and a pickup vehicle. The assailants, numbering five to six, attacked Suhash Shetty with deadly weapons, causing grievous injuries. He was immediately rushed to the AJ Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, as per the Mangaluru City Police.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal says, “Last night at around 8.30 pm, Suhas Shetty, a rowdy sheeter, who is accused number one in Fazil’s murder case, was killed by 5-6 unidentified assailants. We have registered a murder case, and teams are… pic.twitter.com/fpi2QeWEm0

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Amid the tension, the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate has swiftly imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Crpc), 2023. The order took effect at 6 am on Friday and will remain in force until 6 am on May 6, 2025.

Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday that four separate teams have been formed to track down the suspects in the Suhas Shetty murder case.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On Suhas Shetty murder case, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara says, ” Yesterday evening, in Mangaluru city, a murder has happened. We have already taken note of it. We have set up 4 different teams to catch the culprits. We are going to bring them to the… pic.twitter.com/ULMypeU3cX

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025

Speaking to the mediapersons, Parameshwara said, “Yesterday evening, in Mangaluru city, a murder happened. We have already taken note of it. We have set up four different teams to catch the culprits. We are going to bring them to the books…in Dakshin Kannada, we try to bring in lots of peace and harmony and incidents like this should not deter those peace and harmony…we have taken this very seriously…”

The minister assured that the government is taking the incident seriously and remains committed to preserving peace and harmony in Dakshina Kannada. (ANI)