Crime

Police arrest Sharan Pumpwell against dakshina kannada bundh call

By Editor

Posted on May 28, 2025

Police arrest Sharan Pumpwell against dakshina kannada bundh call

Mangaluru : The city police arrested Sharan Pumpwell, joint secretary of South Karnataka wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday connection with the case of calling a DK bundh.

It is said, Mr. Pumpwell had called for a bandh across Dakshina Kannada on May 2, in protest against the murder of Suhas Shetty, a murder accused and a Hindutva activist, near Bajpe on May 1. Mr. Pumpwell also did not appear before police for inquiry in a case registered against him.

Later Mr. Pumpwell on bail. “Following medical examination, Mr. Pumpwell was produced before the jurisdictional magistrate at his home office. The magistrate accepted the bail application and released Mr. Pumpwell,” the advocate said.

Police said that the post-mortem of Suhas Shetty was conducted at the AJ Hospital in the city in the early hours. During that night, outside the hospital premises, the VHP leader addressed the media alleging that Shetty was murdered by “Jihadi Islamic terrorists.”

He further claimed that the banned organisation PFI was directly involved. He also announced that the VHP and other Hindu groups would observe a district-wide bandh from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 2, asking people to shut down shops, offices, and other establishments in protest.

Subsequently, when the public did not respond to the bandh, followers of Mr. Pumpwell, allegedly incited by his statement, created unrest in various parts of Mangaluru. This led to damage to public property, communal tension, and disruption of public peace.

A suo moto case was registered in this connection against Pumpwell at Mangaluru East Police Station in Crime No. 75/2025 under Sections 49, 196(1), 324(2), 324(4), 324(5), and 353(2) of the BNS.

During the investigation, necessary evidence was collected. The accused was served two notices under the BNSS to appear for an inquiry, but failed to comply and did not cooperate. Therefore, he was taken into custody, interrogated, and is being produced before the court.