Mangaluru: Amid a surge in violent incidents in Dakshina Kannada, concerns over rising communal tensions are mounting. Over the past six weeks, three murders have rocked Mangaluru and its surrounding areas, prompting calls for a deeper investigation.
Dr. Manjunath Bhandari, a Member of the Legislative Council, has urged the Central Government to hand over all three murder cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for an impartial probe. He argued that a single agency should examine all three to avoid perceptions of selective justice.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has already transferred the investigation into the May 1 killing of Suhas Shetty in Kinnikambla (near Bajpe) to the NIA. However, Bhandari stressed the need for similar treatment of two other cases: the April 27 lynching of Ashraf in Kudpadi and the May 27 murder of Abdul Rahiman near Kombodi in Kuriyaal.
He warned that investigating only one case while ignoring the others could foster mistrust among the public. “Justice must be consistent. The government shouldn’t appear to favour one case over another. All three deserve the same level of scrutiny,” he said.
Bhandari added that an NIA-led investigation could help identify any common threads or coordinated motives behind the crimes. “A unified approach will give the public a clear picture of what’s truly driving these violent acts,” he stated.
Civil society organizations and local leaders have echoed this appeal, emphasizing that timely and unbiased action is crucial for restoring peace and trust in the region.
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