Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, Karnataka, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara revealed on Saturday. The arrested suspects include Abdul Safwan, Niyaz Ahmed, Mohammad Muzzammil, Khalandar Shafi, Adil Mehroof, and Mohammad Rizwan, all residents of Bajpe in Dakshina Kannada district. Additionally, Ranjit and Nagaraj, both from Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district, have also been apprehended.
During a press conference, Dr. Parameshwara, after reviewing the law and order situation with senior police officials, announced the formation of an Anti-Communal Task Force (ACTF) for the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. Modeled after the existing Anti-Naxal Force, the ACTF will be led by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) and function as a permanent unit aimed at restoring peace.
“The people of these districts were once known for their communal harmony and peaceful environment,” Dr. Parameshwara said. “Unfortunately, radical communal elements have tarnished this reputation. The government is committed to restoring peace, and the formation of this task force is a significant step in that direction.”
The minister also noted that, with Naxal activity subsiding in these areas, personnel from the Anti-Naxal Force could be reassigned to the new unit. The state government has dismantled 96 percent of what it described as a “communal goon network” in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, with Dr. Parameshwara vowing to completely eradicate it.
“We will not tolerate anyone—regardless of their position or community—who makes inflammatory statements, whether in public or on social media,” he added, emphasizing the importance of curbing provocative communal rhetoric. The minister also acknowledged that some elected representatives had exacerbated tensions with such statements and promised that these actions would be addressed firmly.
Suhas Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindu activist, was tragically murdered by an unidentified group on Thursday night within the Bajpe police station limits. In response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organized a bandh on Friday, which saw shops and businesses closed in parts of Mangaluru.
Dr. Parameshwara and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao visited Mangaluru to assess the security situation. The ministers held talks with Police Commissioner Anupam
