Police carried out searches at 14 sites in Karnataka in connection with the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, as per theNational Investigation Agency (NIA).
In the coastal region of Karnataka, a series of shocking events have unfolded, with the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty serving as a catalyst for a wave of violence.
Suhas Shetty, a Bajrang Dal activist and the prime accused in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, was brutally assaulted and murdered by a gang using machetes and swords on May 1, 2025, in the Bajpe area of Mangaluru. The murder of Suhas Shetty came after weeks of retaliation for the killing of BJP worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru, who was hacked to death during the height of the 'hijab' row in Bellare near Sullia in the Dakshina Kannada district.
The murder of Suhas Shetty triggered a chain of revenge killings and a spate of stabbing incidents across the state. Weeks after Suhas Shetty's death, a 42-year-old Imtiyaz, a pickup driver and secretary of a local mosque, was hacked to death in broad daylight near Ira Kodi in Bantwal taluk in Mangaluru as revenge for Suhas Shetty's murder.
Following a demand by BJP leaders and Union Ministers from the state, the Centre handed over the probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in June 2025. The NIA has stated that the killing was intended to spread terror in society, and the investigation into the conspiracy behind the killing is ongoing.
On August 2, 2025, the NIA conducted extensive raids at 18 locations across Karnataka—including Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts—targeting the residences of the 12 arrested individuals and other suspects. During these searches, the NIA seized 11 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, eight memory cards, and incriminating documents.
Mohammad Fazil, a resident of Suratkal, was the initial victim in this tragic chain of events. Suhas Shetty, who had come out of prison on bail in Fazil's murder case, was among those arrested by Mangaluru City police in connection with Fazil's murder.
The BJP has alleged a foreign hand and the role of the banned PFI outfit behind the murder of Suhas Shetty. However, the NIA's investigation is yet to confirm these allegations.
The authorities are conducting a search of the properties and verifying documents during the raids, aiming to uncover the truth behind these violent incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice. As the investigation continues, the people of Karnataka await closure and peace in their troubled region.
[1] Times of India: "NIA raids 18 locations in Karnataka in connection with Suhas Shetty murder case" [2] Deccan Herald: "NIA takes over probe into Suhas Shetty murder case" [3] The Hindu: "NIA raids 14 locations in Mangaluru district in connection with Suhas Shetty murder case" [4] India Today: "Suhas Shetty murder: NIA seizes 11 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, 8 memory cards during raids"
The murder of Suhas Shetty, a Bajrang Dal activist, in May 2025 sparked a series of violent incidents in Karnataka, leading to a chain of revenge killings and stabbing incidents across the state. The investigation into Suhas Shetty's murder, handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is focusing on a possible foreign hand or involvement of the banned PFI outfit, as alleged by the BJP. [1], [2], [3], [4] The ongoing NIA investigation also encompasses general-news topics such as terrorism and crime-and-justice due to the violent nature of the events.
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