Mangaluru, Uttar Pradesh: In a shocking incident that has sent ripples of tension across Mangaluru, Suhas Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and a prime accused in the sensational 2022 Mohammed Fazil murder case, was brutally hacked to death on Thursday night. The broad daylight attack, which occurred near Kinnipadavu Cross, has prompted the city police to form four dedicated teams to track down the assailants and has led to the imposition of prohibitory orders across the city to maintain peace.
Suhas Shetty, in his early thirties, was reportedly traveling with five associates when their vehicle was intercepted by a group of five to six attackers who arrived in a four-wheeler and a pickup truck. Armed with machetes and other deadly weapons, the assailants launched a swift and violent assault on Shetty, inflicting grievous injuries. Despite being rushed to AJ Hospital, he succumbed to his wounds, as confirmed by police officials.
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal stated that a murder case has been registered and a thorough investigation is underway. He confirmed the formation of four police teams tasked with identifying and apprehending the culprits. While the motive behind the murder remains unclear at this early stage, Commissioner Agrawal acknowledged that preliminary investigations suggest the attack was pre-planned.
“We have registered a murder case, and our teams are actively working on identifying the accused. It is too early to establish the motive. We have imposed prohibitory orders to ensure peace in the city,” Commissioner Agrawal told the media.
The victim, Suhas Shetty, was a notorious figure in Mangaluru’s criminal circles. He had at least five criminal cases registered against him, including four in Mangaluru City and one in the Dakshina Kannada district. Notably, he was the prime accused in the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Mohammed Fazil in Surathkal, a case that had previously ignited communal tensions in the region. Fazil’s murder was widely believed to be a retaliatory killing following the assassination of BJP youth worker Praveen Nettaru.
In the aftermath of Shetty’s murder, the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate has enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, across the entire city police limits. These restrictions, effective from 6:00 am on Friday until 6:00 am on May 6, 2025, prohibit public gatherings, meetings, processions, sloganeering, and the carrying of any objects that could be used as weapons. The aim is to prevent any potential escalation of violence or unrest following the incident.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara termed the murder “gruesome” and assured that the government has taken the incident very seriously. He reiterated the formation of four police teams to nab the culprits and emphasized the commitment to maintaining peace and harmony in the Dakshina Kannada region.
“A gruesome murder has occurred in Mangaluru city. We have already taken note of it, and we have in fact set up four different teams to catch the culprits. We are going to bring them to book. We will not have any compromise on this,” Minister Parameshwara stated.
The murder of Suhas Shetty comes on the heels of another recent violent incident in Mangaluru, where a daily-wage laborer was allegedly lynched on April 27. These successive events have created an atmosphere of fear and unease in the city.
Police have significantly increased security measures in sensitive areas across Mangaluru, with continuous patrolling underway to maintain law and order. Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Further updates on the case are expected as the police make progress in their investigation.