Mangaluru: Eight arrested in Suhas Shetty murder case
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru police have arrested eight individuals in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter and Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, who was killed on Thursday night near Bajpe. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed the arrests during a press conference held at the Mangaluru Police Commissioner’s office on Friday.
Speaking to the media, the Home Minister said that the investigation is in full swing and eight accused have been taken into custody. “No person from any community will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Strict action will be taken against all those involved,” he stated. Parameshwara also conducted a review meeting with senior police officials to assess the law and order situation in the region, following tensions in parts of Dakshina Kannada district after the murder.
According to police sources, the arrested accused have been identified as follows:
Abdul Safwan, aged 29, son of Abdul Nasir, is a resident of Shantigudde in Pejavara village, Mangaluru. He was staying in a rented house on Mahakali Temple Road in Bajpe and works as a driver.
Niyaz, aged 28, son of Aboobakker, is from near Shantigudde Mosque in Bajpe. He also stays near Mahakali Temple in Kinnipadavu, Bajpe and works as a mason’s helper.
Mohammad Muzammil, aged 32, son of Abdul Razak, lives in Kenjaru, Bajpe. He worked as a salesman in Saudi Arabia and returned to India four months ago. He got married recently to a woman from Pakshikere. He has a past criminal record with a case registered against him at Panambur Police Station in 2016 under Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code.
Khalandar Shafi, aged 31, son of Mohammad, hails from Kalavaru in Mangaluru. He works as a salesman in Bengaluru and has a case registered against him at Suratkal Police Station in 2023 under the NDPS Act.
Ranjith, aged 19, son of Rajesh, is from Rudrapada in Kalasa taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. He belongs to the Adi Karnataka (Scheduled Caste) community and works as a driver.
Nagaraj, aged 20, son of Mari Muthu, is a resident of Mavinakere village in Chikkamagaluru. He belongs to the Vokkaliga Gowda community and works in a shamiyana (tent house) business.
Mohammad Rizwan, aged 28, son of Abdul Majeed, resides near Eidgah Mosque in Jokatte, Mangaluru. He works in an oil plant shutdown operation in Saudi Arabia.
The eighth accused is Adil Meharuf from Bajpe. Adil is son of Umarul Farooq and brother of Mohammed Fazil who was murdered in Suratkal in 2022.
Following the murder, the police launched an operation and recovered the vehicle used in the crime. Based on CCTV footage and other evidence, they were able to identify and arrest the suspects.
The murder of Suhas Shetty has led to tension and protests in the region. Security has been heightened, with additional police forces deployed to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Posters declaring Samrat as new Bihar CM put up outside Patna BJP office as Nitish heads to Delhi
Patna (PTI): Posters declaring Samrat Choudhary, the deputy CM of Bihar, as the man who would head the new government in the state, were on Thursday put up outside the BJP office in Patna as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left for Delhi to be sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP.
The posters, a few of which were pulled down by the party office staff, bore the label of 'Valmiki Samaj', a community of Dalits associated with scavenging work.
"We do not know who has put up these posters. We can, at this moment, only say that who would be the next CM is a decision to be taken collectively, as has been the party's tradition," BJP state media in charge Danish Eqbal told reporters.
Speculations are rife that upon being sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP on Friday, Kumar, who turned 75 last month, will hold the last meeting of his cabinet next week before giving up the chief minister's post.
Choudhary, who is seen as the front-runner among those in the race for the top job, has experienced a meteoric rise since he joined the BJP less than a decade ago.
Hailing from the Koeri caste, an influential OBC group which both the BJP and the main opposition party RJD have been trying to woo with equal intensity, Choudhary was made the state party president in 2023 and became the Deputy CM a year later, when the NDA was back in power following the JD(U) supremo's return to the coalition.
When the NDA retained power in the assembly polls held last year, Choudhary returned as Deputy CM, this time with the crucial Home portfolio, which Kumar had so far been averse to parting with.
According to sources in the BJP, which is currently the single largest party in the 243-strong assembly, the new government will be formed after April 14, when the month-long inauspicious Hindu calendar period of 'Kharmaas' ends.
The sources said top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to be present at a "grand ceremony" that will mark the formation of the "first ever BJP government in Bihar", the only Hindi heartland state where the seat of power has eluded the party.
While Choudhary was being admittedly seen as the "most preferred" candidate for the top job, a "surprise" could not be ruled out since the final decision would be taken by the BJP's top leadership, known for adopting a "shock and awe" strategy.
Meanwhile, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad was asked about reports that the BJP was likely to hold a meeting in Delhi to discuss the formation of the new government in Bihar.
Prasad told PTI Video, "Of course, being a significant constituent of the NDA, the BJP has the right to hold deliberations on the emerging situation. But one thing is clear. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's consent will be sought while deciding his successor. Moreover, he will continue to spend as much time as possible in the state to offer guidance to the new government."
