The Mangaluru city police are investigating the murder of Bajrang Dal activist and BJP worker Deepak Rao from all angles, including cannabis racket, supari killing, communal, and old rivalry.
Senior police officials involved in the investigation said that questioning of the two arrested — Mohammed Naushad and Mohammed Irshan — is under way and they have definite leads. Since two other accused — Mohammed alias Pinky Nawaz and Rizwan alias Ijju — who received bullet injuries on their foot are undergoing treatment, their questioning would be done after they are discharged, an official said.
He said that Rao, who was also associated in community services in the region, was apparently opposed to increasing drug menace in the locality thus becoming the target of those involved in drug peddling. Some of the accused are allegedly not only drug addicts, but were also into peddling, sources in the police said.
At the same time, Rao had also received threats from the accused for having earlier recorded a video of removal of buntings of a local function.
The accused had reportedly threatened Rao: “Delete the video clipping or you will be deleted”. This allegation was reiterated by family members of Rao in their complaint to the police.
Business as usual
It was work as usual for business establishments, which had downed shutters on Thursday in and around Surathkal following Rao’s murder and funeral. As a precautionary measure, the police had arranged heavy bandobast across the Commissionerate with special focus on Surathkal and Ullal regions.
Meanwhile, the condition of Bashir, proprietor of a small eatery at Kottara, who was fatally assaulted on Wednesday night, continues to be critical, the police said. Doctors at A.J. Hospital told police that they cannot assure anything for three to four days.
The police are examining CCTV footage and gathering other evidence to identify the assailants of Bashir, who received several stab injuries on his head, face and chest.
