Just hours after imposing restrictions in Mangaluru following the spate of murders in Dakshina Kannada district, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner N Shashikumar reversed the order banning male pillion riders between 6 pm and 6 am. The restriction has been withdrawn in public interest, the authorities said. While Section 144 of CrPC throughout Mangaluru has been extended till August 8, liquor shops will now allowed to remain open till 6 pm and the previously issued restrictions on closure of shops and businesses has been relaxed from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Earlier on Thursday, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order, Alok Kumar had issued a ban on male pillion riders effective from August 5. He said that 18 checkpoints are being established in the bordering district of Dakshina Kannada. On checkpoints, CCTVs shall be installed and Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel will be dispatched. He also said that the rigorous security measures would last for a year.
Tension has gripped Dakshina Kannada after the back-to-back murders of three youths — Masood, BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru and Mohammed Fazil — in July. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that he will pay a visit to the families of the three individuals who were killed. Recently, the police arrested six people in Fazil’s murder case, and said that they all had common links. Police added that the group had observed Fazil for a day before killing him, and that he was specifically targetted. Read about how they carried off the attack: