Mogaveera Community Alleges Police Highhandedness in Somanath Puthran Suicide Case; Demands Judicial Probe and Action

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Mangaluru : The Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Samyukta Sabha has strongly alleged that the custodial atrocities and harassment by the Surathkal police drove fisherman Somanath Puthran to commit suicide. Addressing a press conference at the Urwa Marigudi Temple in Mangaluru on Monday, Sabha President Bharat Ullal demanded that an FIR be registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the errant police personnel involved and that they be immediately suspended. Highlighting that Somanath was the sole breadwinner of his family with no criminal antecedent, the organization announced plans to submit formal petitions to the Chief Minister, Home Minister, District In-charge Minister, and the Human Rights Commission seeking an independent investigation.

The community leaders expressed deep suspicions over the police handling of the case, pointing out that the FIR failed to name the suspects despite a formal complaint filed by the victim’s wife against the couple involved. Demanding a transparent probe, the Sabha urged the government to set up a judicial inquiry headed by a serving or retired District Judge and publish the final report within 30 days, alongside immediately seizing the police station’s CCTV footage, General Diary, and official records. Furthermore, the organization tabled a set of key demands to support the bereaved family, including ₹2 crore compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, a government job for the victim’s wife on compassionate grounds, and full coverage of their children’s educational expenses.

The Sabha also pressed for institutional safeguards to protect the community, advocating for the establishment of a dedicated Fishermen Protection Cell across coastal police stations and training officers on engaging respectfully with fishermen. Bharat Ullal questioned the rationale behind targeting Somanath for merely questioning a couple behaving inappropriately near his house late at night, raising concerns over whether the police tested the woman involved for narcotics. Warning the state government of severe repercussions, he stated that if their core demands are not met within 48 hours, the coastal fishing community will launch an aggressive, large-scale agitation surpassing the historic MRPL protests. Supporting the call, fishing leader Yatish Baikampady affirmed that the community serves as a vital security shield for the coast and reiterated that the protest will intensify unless an impartial judicial inquiry clears all doubts.