Mangaluru police withdraw ban on male pillion riders after drawing flak
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The place where the murder of Muhammed Fazil took place.
Just hours after imposing restrictions in Mangaluru following the three killings that rocked Dakshina Kannada district in the span of 10 days, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner N Shashikumar reversed the order banning male pillion riders between 6 pm and 6 am.
Earlier in the day, Kumar had issued an order stating that male pillion riders aged 18-60 years will not be allowed in city limits between 6 pm and 6 am. As it drew flak, the order was withdrawn "in the public interest", according to Kumar.
While Section 144 of CrPC throughout Mangaluru has been extended till August 8, liquor shops will now be allowed to remain open till 6 pm and the previously issued restrictions on the closure of shops and businesses have been relaxed from 6 pm to 8 pm.
More than five people cannot be seen in public places and no private or public programs and processions are allowed.
According to police, about 19 check posts have been installed in the city to keep an eye on the movement of vehicles and more than 200 vehicles plying at night "unnecessarily" have been seized.
Additional director-general of police (law and order) Alok Kumar, who has been camping in the coastal district since the incidents unfolded, held meetings with police officers to take stock of the situation. He also visited the prisons in Mangaluru.
On July 19, an 18-year-old Kerala youth, Masood B, was attacked near Bellare by people linked to Hindutva groups following a fight over a trivial issue. He died two days later. On July 26, Praveen Nettaru, a 32-year-old BJP youth worker, was hacked to death in Bellare by two bike-borne attackers allegedly linked to the PFI. Two days later, Mohammed Fazil (23) was hacked to death inside a clothing store in Surathkal by a gang whose members have been associated with Hindutva outfits.