Mangaluru: In the wake of the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Bajpe, the Mangaluru City Police have launched a crackdown on provocative social media content, particularly posts inciting violence and revenge.
12 FIRs registered across multiple police stations
Authorities have confirmed that 12 cases have been registered at various police stations including Mulki, Urwa, Barke, North, South, Moodbidri, and Kavoor. These FIRs pertain to inflammatory content circulated via Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
The posts under scrutiny range from direct calls for retaliation to content glorifying violence and justifying acts of vengeance. Police said that several Instagram pages were found to be particularly active in sharing provocative material.
Examples of inflammatory content
One Instagram account under the name “beary_royal_nawab” posted a message saying, “The destruction of enemies has begun, resistance is not a crime.”
Another user declared, “Suhas’s sacrifice will not be in vain. If we don’t show our strength now, one day we won’t exist.”
A post shared by “hindu_mantra_” stated, “We don’t want any answers, blood for blood is the only answer, life for life.”
The account “ullaltho_makka” shared a similar message reading, “Resistance is not a crime…”
According to sources, many of these posts surfaced shortly after the murder, while others were reportedly circulated even before the incident, indicating a broader pattern of online provocation and tension-building.
Police response amid criticism
This development comes as the Mangaluru police face criticism from various quarters for failing to prevent the communal tension that followed Shetty’s killing. The circulation of such posts is believed to have further escalated public sentiment and polarisation in the region.
The authorities have warned that action will continue against individuals or groups found to be spreading hate speech or inciting violence through digital platforms. The crackdown is part of an effort to prevent communal flare-ups and restore law and order in the sensitive coastal region.
Meanwhile, officials have appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unverified or inflammatory content and urged community leaders to help maintain peace.