Five individuals accused in the mob lynching of 38-year-old Ashraf, a Muslim ragpicker from Kerala, have been granted bail by the Second Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru. Meanwhile, seven more bail applications are still under review.
Ashraf was lynched during a cricket tournament in Kudupu, Mangaluru, on April 27, allegedly after he shouted “Pakistan Pakistan,” according to the FIR. The incident led to the arrest of 20 suspects, though Ravindra Nayak, reportedly linked to the BJP and accused of inciting the mob, remains absconding.
On May 31, the court granted bail to Rahul (Accused No. 10) and K Sushanth (Accused No. 20), pointing to significant lapses in the initial police complaint. The court highlighted a delay in registering the FIR and inconsistencies in the timeline — the crime took place on April 27, statements were recorded on April 28, and the FIR only reached the magistrate on April 29.
Further bail was granted on June 5 to Sandeep Basavarajappa Haveri (Accused No. 16), Deekshith (No. 17), and Sachin (No. 19), as the FIR did not name them at the scene, prompting the court to call for deeper investigation.
Bail decisions are pending for Saideep, Anil Kumar, Yathiraj, Viviyan Alvaris, Shri Dattha, Dhanush, and Kishore Kumar.
Ashraf’s killing has intensified communal tensions in coastal Karnataka, especially following the murders of Suhas Shetty and Abdul Rahiman. Civil society and political observers have criticized police delays and alleged bias, with Muslim Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada resigning, accusing the party of apathy toward communal violence.
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