Suhas Shetty Murder: Karnataka government to form Anti-Communal Task Force in Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts

Karnataka government on Saturday announced that it will form an Anti-Communal Task Force in Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts to take strict action against those who support or promote communalism.

The task force will be formed to investigate past communal riots and to take strict action against those making provocative statements, said Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara in a press conference.

"The soon-to-be-formed Anti-Communal Task Force will investigate past communal riots. Going forward, the police will take strict action against those who make provocative statements. No matter how influential a person is, the police will take action. Even if they are political leaders, action will be taken against them," Parameshwara said.


"This will come into effect as early as possible, probably a week or two. We will empower them to act independently with the coordination of local Police...This will hopefully control all the communal activities in the two districts," he added.

The move comes after the murder of Suhas Shetty, the main accused in the 2022 mob lynching of Mohammed Fazil in Surathkal, on Thursday in Mangaluru. The home minister said that eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder.

Parameshwara and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao rushed to Mangaluru on Friday and held high-level discussions with Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal and Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan to assess the law and order situation. The ministers reviewed the security arrangements and appealed for calm, assuring that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the violence and disruption

Suhas Shetty murder

According to police, the attack occurred around 8:30 pm in Kinnipadavu near Bajpe on the outskirts of Mangaluru on Thursday night. Shetty was travelling with his associates when a group of five to six men in a car and a pickup vehicle intercepted them. The assailants allegedly attacked Shetty using sharp weapons and fled the scene.

He was grievously injured and rushed to AJ Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, reported PTI.

Police records show Shetty was involved in at least five criminal cases, including murder and robbery, registered across Mangaluru and Belthangady taluks. He had recently been released from jail after serving time for his previous offences.

In the wake of Shetty’s murder, Mangaluru Police enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the city from Friday until May 6.

“The order aims to prevent potential flare-ups and maintain public order after the incident,” said Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal, who also serves as the additional district magistrate.

The directive prohibits public gatherings, meetings, processions, slogan-shouting, and the carrying of any items that can be used as weapons.

The police decision follows signs of unrest in the city, with Vishwa Hindu Parishad expressing anger over Shetty’s killing. Authorities fear that his murder could lead to communal unrest, especially given the sensitive backdrop of past violence linked to the Fazil lynching case.