Home Minister rules out NIA probe into Hindutva activist’s murder

Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Sunday ruled out handing over the investigation into the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Turning down Tejasvi Surya, BJP MP, and other party leaders’ demand that the investigation should be handed over to the NIA, the Home Minister said the police are doing their job efficiently.

Mr. Surya and other BJP leaders had earlier alleged that the murder was a “targeted killing” and called for a central investigation, accusing the State government of failing to protect Hindutva activists.

““This is their opinion. Our police are doing their job efficiently. Eight arrests have been made already, and the investigation is progressing well,” he told presspersons in Bengaluru.

Asserting that he was confident that the State police was handling the case efficiently, Dr. Parameshwara said: “At this stage, there is no requirement to involve the NIA. Our force is capable and has already shown results.”

When asked why no government representative visited the activist’s family, the Home Minister said the deceased had five criminal cases against him. “This is a murder case, and that is why neither me nor any other representative from the government met the family,” he said.

However, he said that the government would ensure the family gets justice. “We have already done our part and eight people have been arrested,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the State government’s plans to set up a special security force to curb communal violence in the coastal districts.

“I think we need a special security force to curb anti-social elements. We need specially trained officials to detect communal forces and curb their activities. We are thinking about it and are yet to hold detailed discussions with the Home Minister, and other senior Ministers and officials. A decision will be taken later,” he told presspersons at Akki Alur in Haveri district on Sunday.

Refusing to comment on the police claims that the compensation money of ₹25 lakh, received by family of Fazil who had been killed in 2022 in Suratkal, was offered to contract killers in the Suhas Shetty murder case., he said he did not have full details of the case.

“I will meet Dr. Parameshwara and district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to learn the full details before responding,” he said.