Mangaluru police arrest two accused in 1998 communal riot case

Mangaluru: The city police have arrested two men accused of participating in a communal riot that broke out more than 26 years ago in Haleyangadi, under Mulki police station limits. The arrests mark a breakthrough in a long-pending case (LPC) that had remained unresolved since 1998.

The accused have been identified as Chandrahass Keshav Shetty (59) and Leeladhar (52). Announcing the arrests on Wednesday, Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH, Police Commissioner of Mangaluru city, said both accused are now in judicial custody.

Riot of 1998: the original case

On December 31, 1998, a communal riot erupted in Haleyangadi, resulting in multiple criminal cases registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). While several accused were apprehended soon after, Shetty and Leeladhar evaded arrest for decades.

Investigators filed a chargesheet marking them as absconding, and the court later categorised it as a long-pending case. This effectively stalled proceedings until the police managed to trace the missing accused.

Arrest after decades of evasion

• Leeladhar’s arrest: Recently, police received intelligence that Leeladhar had returned from abroad and was living in a rented house in Parkikere village. Acting swiftly, the Mulki police arrested him and produced him before the court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Both men are now facing trial after decades of evading justice.

Additional charges under BNS

The police have also booked the accused under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the IPC in July 2024. These include:

• Section 208: Non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant

By invoking these sections, the police have formally addressed the accused persons’ deliberate evasion and prolonged absence from legal proceedings.

Long arm of the law

The arrests highlight the persistence of law enforcement in tracing absconding accused, even after decades. Long-pending communal riot cases, especially in coastal Karnataka, have remained sensitive in nature. Police officials stressed that such cases will not be allowed to lapse due to the passage of time or international absconding of the accused.

Legal experts note that while the delay may complicate witness testimonies and evidence retrieval, the arrests reaffirm the principle that offenders cannot permanently escape accountability by staying away from the country.

Conclusion

MANGALURU: With both Shetty and Leeladhar in custody, the 1998 Haleyangadi riot case will finally move forward in court. The development underscores the determination of the police to pursue long-pending communal riot cases and send a message that evasion cannot indefinitely shield accused persons from facing trial.