A surge of violence in coastal Karnataka has left local communities shaken after a brutal sword attack in Bantwal Taluk claimed one life and left another individual critically injured. The incident occurred in Kambodi Kalpane village on Tuesday morning.
Two men were ambushed while unloading sand from a pick-up truck, according to eyewitnesses. One of the victims, identified as Imtiyaaz, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. He was known locally as the Secretary of a mosque and an active member of the South Kannada Sunni Students Federation. His companion, Abdul Rahman, is battling for survival after suffering severe head injuries in the assault.
Local law enforcement officials are investigating the motive behind the attack, which involved sharp weapons and appeared to be carried out with precision and intent to kill. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting.
Violence Rocks the City Back-to-Back
This is not the only act of violence to rock the region recently. Just days prior, Naushad alias Chotte Naushad, the main suspect in the high-profile murder case of right-wing supporter Suhas Shetty, was assaulted inside the Mangaluru District Jail. The incident occurred during a scheduled transfer when inmates reportedly pelted him with stones and attacked him during a clash in the quarantine wing.
The root of that case stretches back to earlier this month when Suhas Shetty a man with ties to various right-wing outfits and a criminal record was hacked to death by a group of attackers wielding machetes and swords. The ambush occurred on a public road near Kinnipadavu Cross while Shetty was traveling with five others. Investigators suspect that the attack was orchestrated by contract killers, allegedly hired by the family of one of Shetty’s past victims.
Police Intensifies Patrol in Sensitive Areas
While police are yet to link Tuesday’s Bantwal attack to the earlier incidents, the timing and similarities have intensified concerns. Officials have increased patrols and deployed additional personnel in sensitive areas to prevent potential flare-ups.
Community leaders have expressed concern over the rising pattern of violent retaliation and have demanded immediate and unbiased action from authorities. Residents remain anxious as tensions escalate across Dakshina Kannada.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing, with officials focusing on possible connections between the victims, attackers, and recent communal or criminal conflicts in the region.
