New and damning revelations have emerged in the investigation into the barbaric murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officially took charge of the case. The probe has confirmed the direct involvement of individuals affiliated with the now-banned radical Islamic organization Popular Front of India (PFI). Evidence points to a meticulously planned conspiracy, executed over several months and supported by both domestic and international financial networks.
As per the Organiser, the NIA, after taking over the case from Mangaluru’s City Crime Branch, has uncovered that a majority of the 12 arrested suspects were long-time operatives or sympathizers of the PFI. The central agency is closely tracing a web of financial transactions, which reveal that money was systematically funneled into the bank accounts of the accused terrorists from sources within India and abroad. This financial trail is being probed as a vital piece of the larger terror plot.
The horrific incident took place on 1st May 2025, in Bajpe, Mangaluru, where Suhas Shetty, a well-known Hindu karyakarta, was hacked to death in broad daylight by Islamic extremists. The brazen attack was captured on CCTV and triggered statewide outrage. Investigators have confirmed that the conspiracy was hatched as early as January 2025, when Adil Mehroof allegedly handed over ₹3 lakh to Abdul Safwan’s gang to carry out the killing. Safwan reportedly conducted a 15-day surveillance operation to track Shetty’s movements, with a backup plan in place if the first attempt failed.
Further deepening the conspiracy, another PFI operative, Azhar Kalavar, provided critical intelligence on Shetty’s location and activities in Bajpe. The attackers used two vehicles to coordinate and execute the crime with chilling precision.
The NIA has now arrested the following individuals: Adil Mehroof, Abdul Safwan, Niyaz, Mohammed Mussammir, Kalandar Shafi, Mohammed Rizwan, M. Nagaraj, Ranjith, Azhar Kalavar, Naushad, Abdul Khader, and Abdul Razak. The arrests spanned three phases: May 3rd, May 15th, and June 3rd, and the suspects are currently under intense interrogation, with eight held in NIA custody until July 1.
During questioning, several accused reportedly confessed to receiving logistical and financial support from former PFI operatives currently based overseas. This has led the NIA to expand its probe into the international arms of the banned outfit, which appears to remain operational despite its ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The investigative team, led by DySP Pawan Kumar, is focusing heavily on these transnational financial linkages, under the direct supervision of NIA DIG Rahul and SP Shivakumar.
Notably, Hindu organizations and several BJP leaders had earlier raised concerns about a broader terror plot involving foreign funding and PFI operatives. Their warnings, once dismissed, now stand vindicated by the NIA’s findings.
PFI’s ongoing anti-Hindu activities in Dakshina Kannada
Despite its formal ban, the Popular Front of India (PFI) continues to operate as a shadow organization, particularly active in coastal Karnataka, including the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district. The group has a documented history of radicalizing youth, inciting communal discord, and targeting Hindu activists with cold-blooded precision. PFI’s ecosystem in this region runs deep, drawing strength from underground operatives, sleeper cells, and foreign-based financial conduits. The brutal murder of Suhas Shetty is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern of targeted violence orchestrated against outspoken Hindus and nationalist voices. This latest killing, executed with military-level coordination, highlights the urgency with which security agencies must dismantle the remnants of PFI’s operational network before more lives are lost in the name of ideological jihad.
It is worth noting that the BJP, during its tenure, had actively pushed for a ban on PFI and raised alarm about its growing threat to national security, especially in coastal Karnataka. However, the current Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has been accused of indulging in blatant minority appeasement. Its silence and inaction on radical Islamist elements have raised serious concerns among Hindu groups and nationalist circles. The continued threat posed by PFI demands not just arrests, but an aggressive crackdown on its hidden infrastructure, something that appears unlikely under a regime more focused on vote-bank politics than on rooting out terrorism from its soil.
