Mangaluru murders: Karnataka sets up anti-communal task force

Following two back-to-back murders in Mangaluru, the Karnataka government has decided to form an anti-communal task force, a government official said on Thursday.

The task force will be led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-level officer and will be functioning in the districts of Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga.

Reason behind the move

The decision comes in the wake of two murders in Mangaluru this month.

Two men were fatally hacked with a sword in Kambodi Kalpane in Bantwal of Dakshina Kannada district in Mangaluru earlier this week.

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While one of them succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital, the other is in critical condition.

The deceased has been identified as Imteyaaz, the secretary of a mosque in Mangaluru, and the injured is his friend Rahman.

Murder of right-wing activist

Another such incident took place on May 4, when Suhaas Shetty, a murder accused and a right-wing activist, was murdered by contract killers hired by the family members of one of his victims.

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Shetty, who had several cases against him, was attacked by at least five men with machetes and swords on a congested road. Two accused, who were later arrested in the case, admitted that the family of Mohammed Fazil, who was murdered in 2022, paid them to kill Shetty.

In total, eight persons were arrested in connection with the case, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said. Following Shetty’s murder, the VHP called for a shutdown in Mangaluru city earlier this month.