FIR in Mangaluru murder says 15 men attacked Masjid secretary in broad daylight
Bantwal Rural police have registered an FIR in the brutal murder of Abdul Rahiman (32), secretary of the Kolthamajal Jumma Masjid, who was hacked to death on May 27 in Kuriyal village.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Rahiman and his colleague Kalandar Shafi were unloading sand from a pick-up truck around 3 pm when they were attacked by a group of approximately 15 men, who were armed with swords, knives, and rods. The assailants allegedly dragged Rahiman from the driver’s seat and stabbed him multiple times. Shafi, who tried to intervene, sustained serious injuries.
By the time the complainant reached the spot, Rahiman was found lying in a pool of blood with injuries to his head and neck and was unable to speak. He was declared dead on arrival, and Shafi remains in the ICU at Highland Hospital.
The FIR has named local residents Deepak and Sumit among the accused, noting that the motive could be communal or related to some other issue. The case has been registered under Sections 103 (murder), 109 (attempt to murder), 118(1) (voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death), 118(2) (voluntarily causes grievous hurt by any means), 190 (unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly), 191(1), 191(2), and 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Authorities have issued prohibitory orders effective from 6 pm on May 27 to 6 pm on May 30 in Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur, Kadaba, and Sullia taluks.
Sharan Pumpwell arrested, released on bail
On the same day as Rahiman’s murder, Mangaluru police arrested Sharan Pumpwell, joint secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s South Karnataka wing, in connection with a case filed against him for inciting unrest during a bandh on May 2.
The bandh was called following the murder of rowdy-sheeter and murder accused Suhas Shetty.
According to police, Sharan failed to appear for questioning despite being served two notices. A police statement said that on the night of May 2, outside AJ Hospital where Suhas’ post-mortem was conducted, Sharan publicly alleged that “Jihadi Islamic terrorists” were behind the killing and accused the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) of being directly involved. He urged the public to shut down shops and establishments in protest.
Although the bandh saw limited participation, Sharan’s followers allegedly resorted to violence, damaging public property and disrupting law and order in Mangaluru. A suo motu case was registered at Mangaluru East Police Station. Sharan was arrested for non-cooperation in the investigation and was later released on bail after being produced before the court.
Earlier on May 27, shortly after Rahiman’s death, a group of his supporters blocked the vehicle of Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal as he exited the mortuary of a private hospital in Deralakatte, where Rahiman’s body was kept. Protesters demanded the immediate arrest of Sharan Pumpwell and other VHP leaders for their inflammatory remarks. A similar demonstration was held outside Highland Hospital in Falnir, where the injured Shafi is undergoing treatment.