Murder of Hindu Activist Sparks Political Row in Karnataka; BJP Seeks NIA Probe
Mangaluru: The murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in the coastal town of Surathkal has sparked a political storm in Karnataka, with BJP MLA Dr. Y Bharath Shetty calling for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), citing concerns over communal targeting and political inertia.
Addressing media in Mangaluru on Thursday, the Mangaluru (North) MLA alleged that the incident was 'not a random act of violence' but a pre-meditated killing aimed at silencing voices from the Hindu community. 'The circumstances surrounding Suhas Shetty's murder point to a larger conspiracy. The State Government must not treat this as an isolated incident,' he said.
Shetty also accused the Congress government of 'appeasement politics' and claimed that the administration was reluctant to act decisively when members of the Hindu community were targeted. 'There is a growing feeling among people that extremists are being shielded. This needs to stop,' he added.
The victim, in his early 30s, was associated with local Hindu organisations and was reportedly active in local social issues. His death has triggered outrage among right-wing groups, who have held demonstrations demanding justice and quick arrests.
Karnataka Police have formed multiple teams to investigate the case, but opposition leaders insist that only a central agency can conduct a thorough and impartial probe.
The issue is expected to gain traction in the upcoming Assembly session, with the BJP planning to corner the government over what it describes as a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the coastal region.
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Fresh avenues, denied Hoping to revive their case, the Delhi Police, on September 21 last year, moved court to conduct a lie detector test and a psychological assessment of Ravinder and his family. 'It is submitted that on 16.02.2020, the above case was registered on the complaint of Mr Ankit Bhati… During the investigation, it was revealed that the missing [woman], Sheetal Choudhary, was murdered and her body was dumped in Gang Nahar. Later on, an unknown body was recovered in Aligarh, and her post-mortem was conducted by the police officer concerned in Aligarh Hospital. During the post-mortem, exhibits, including teeth, of the deceased were seized, but the DNA of the same teeth [did] not match the DNA of her parents,' read the application. 'For further investigation, a polygraph test, layered voice stress analysis, and a psychological Assessment test of the six accused persons is required. Therefore, it is requested that the tests may be… conducted in FSL/Rohini…,' the application read. On May 29 this year, a Delhi court rejected the police's request. 'Since the accused persons have not consented… the court cannot force [them] to undergo the tests… Accordingly, the application is dismissed,' said Additional Sessions Judge Alok Shukla of Karkardooma Court in his order. 'It is settled law that compulsory or involuntary administration of polygraph tests on an accused violates the right against self-incrimination,' he added. As for the second body, Advocate Sharma had recently argued in court that an FIR should have been lodged in relation to it. The Delhi Police had replied that since the body was not Sheetal's and since it was found in UP, it was not in their domain. To this, Sharma replied that a zero FIR could have been lodged, which can be registered by any police station irrespective of jurisdiction, or the UP police could have been intimated about the events. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sharma alleged: 'It is crystal clear that from the beginning, no fair investigation was ever carried out by the investigating officer. The accused persons were arrested based on a false and concocted story… the investigating agency did not bother to conduct the lie detector tests at an initial stage of the probe.' To date, only a handful of witnesses have been examined, and the trial is unlikely to conclude any time soon. Meanwhile, Sheetal's whereabouts remain unknown. No body. No closure. Just a growing trail of questions — and two families still waiting for answers.
