BJP Slams Proposed Anti-Communal Task Force, Demands NIA Probe into Mangaluru Murder

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 4, 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the anti-communal task force proposed by Home Minister G. Parameshwara, calling it an "anti-Hindu task force" designed to suppress Hindutva activists in the region.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, BJP Dakshina Kannada district president Satish Kumpala alleged bias in the handling of recent incidents by the state government and police.

Referring to the arrest of Adil Mehroom, the brother of 2022 Surathkal murder victim Fazil, on charges of funding Suhas Shetty’s murder accused, Mr. Kumpala accused Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader of misleading the public. "Mr. Khader has claimed that Fazil’s family was not involved in a revenge killing, attributing the murder to group rivalry. However, recent developments expose the Speaker’s partisan stance," he said.

The BJP leader also questioned the Speaker’s actions in the Assembly, including suspending BJP legislators and initiating a privilege motion against Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja. "Under what provisions should BJP legislators now move a privilege motion against Mr. Khader for his partisan attitude?" Mr. Kumpala asked.

Mr. Kumpala accused the Bajpe police of aiding the assailants by providing information about Suhas Shetty’s movements and advising him not to carry weapons, leaving him vulnerable to the attack on Thursday night.

The BJP criticized Home Minister G. Parameshwara and district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for not consulting regional MLAs and MPs during their visit to Mangaluru. Instead, the leaders held meetings with Muslim community representatives, which Mr. Kumpala alleged was a continuation of the Congress government’s "appeasement politics."

Asserting that justice would not be served under the state police’s investigation, the BJP leaders demanded that the case be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to uncover the "larger conspiracy" behind the murder.

The press conference was attended by MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta and MLAs Y. Bharath Shetty, Rajesh U. Naik, D. Vedavyasa Kamath, and Harish Poonja.