Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Police on Monday arrested VHP regional joint secretary Sharan Pumpwell in connection with a case of disrupting public order following the murder of Suhas Shetty earlier this month. Suhas Shetty was killed on May 1 in Bajpe. A post-mortem examination was conducted in the early hours of May 2 at the A J Hospital mortuary under the jurisdiction of the Mangaluru East Police Station. Later that night, while speaking to the media outside the hospital, Sharan Pumpwell alleged that Shetty, a member of a Hindu organization, had been killed by “jihadi Islamic terrorists” and accused the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) of being directly involved. He also announced a district-wide bandh on May 2 from 6 am to 6 pm, urging the public to shut down shops, offices, and other establishments in protest. According to the police statement, when the bandh failed to garner support, Pumpwell’s followers allegedly resorted to violence in different parts of the city. According to police, this led to damage to public property, triggered communal tensions, and disturbed peace in Mangaluru. In response, the Mangaluru East Police registered a suo moto case against Sharan Pumpwell under various sections of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), including Sections 49, 196(1), 324(2), 324(4), 324(5), and 353(2). Despite being issued two notices to appear for inquiry, Pumpwell reportedly failed to respond or cooperate with the investigation. Consequently, he was taken into custody on May 27, interrogated, and is being produced before court, the police said in an official statement.
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