28-05-2025
‘Extraordinary steps' will be taken to restore normalcy in Mangaluru: Hitendra
The Karnataka State police has taken serious note of the three recent murders in Dakshina Kannada and 'extraordinary steps' are being taken to restore peace in the region, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Law and Order) R. Hitendra in Mangaluru on Wednesday.
Speaking to The Hindu after a meeting with senior police officers in Bantwal and the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate, Mr. Hitendra said that the region had not witnessed a series of murders over the past three years.
The State police had taken a serious view of the mob lynching of Ashraf on April 27 in Kudupu, which was followed by the murder of Suhas Shetty in Bajpe on May 1 and the murder of 32-year-old Abdul Rehman on May 27.
'In addition to regular preventive measures, some extraordinary steps are being taken. I have given instructions to Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru Police officers,' Mr. Hitendra said while refusing to reveal what those steps would be.
Mr. Hitendra said police are on the lookout for the assailants allegedly involved in the murder of Rehman. The motive behind the murder will be revealed through questioning of the assailants, he said.
Inflammatory content
Regarding the removal of inflammatory content on X and Instagram, the ADGP stated that a separate set of police officers is coordinating with Meta in this regard. There is a set procedure that must be followed, and the same is being implemented by Mangaluru and other police units, which is leading to the deactivation of accounts.
'As the perpetrators can continue to post inflammatory content on social media in some form or the other, police are making efforts to trace these perpetrators and take effective action,' he said.
Mr. Hitendra had a detailed discussion with Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police N. Yathish and other officers in Bantwal on Wednesday afternoon. He also had a separate meeting with Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal and other city police officers at the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate in the evening.
