In a shocking piece of news that has put the people of Karnataka in tension and eeriness, the district of Daksina Kannada is turning out to be a crime hotspot after back-to-back murders. In the evening hours of Thursday, a Muslim man 23-year-old Mohammed Fazil was stabbed to death by masked assailants in Mangaluru, which has become the third murder in the span of eight days. 

Fazil was identified as a local businessman and he was attacked outside the Bee Jay's clothing store while he was talking with his friend. It has been reported that a mob of assailants had arrived in a white car and they began chasing Fazil with sickles outside the clothing store. Fazil ran into the store to seek shelter. However, he was cornered by the mob and he was brutally hacked to death. 

Even after Fazil collapsed, the gang didn't stop attacking him. Speaking to the media, Mangaluru Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said, "At around 8 pm, a 23-year-old youth was attacked with weapons by a group of four or five men. We have gathered some information from an eyewitness who was standing with him when the attack occurred and others at the spot. A case has been registered at the Surathkal police station and we are ascertaining why the murder occurred." 

In the aftermath of the startling incident, a curfew under section 144 was imposed. The Commissioner further said, "The Mulky, Panambur, Surathkal, and Bajpe police stations are sensitive stations and as a result, we are imposing restrictions under section 144 for two days till Saturday morning. Liquor stores will be closed in the region." 

While the police are yet to exhume the motive behind the murder, it has been suspected that the murder could be a retaliation for the killing of BJP Youth Wing leader Praveen Nettaru in the Bellare region of Dakshina Kannada. Praveen was hacked to death on July 26 and the police have arrested two accused - 29-year-old Zakir and 23-year-old Shafiq, who belong to the Muslim community. 

The attack at Surathkal has happened when Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the Dakshina Kannada region to meet the family of Praveen Nettaru. The police are also investigating the murder of Praveen Nettaru at the angle of whether his killing was linked to the murder of 18-year-old Masood on July 19 by persons linked to Hindutva groups.  

Following the murder of Faizal in Surathkal, Mangaluru, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, "After the murder incident in Surathkal, as a precautionary measure, additional police personnel have been directed to be deployed in Dakshina Kannada district to maintain law and order. Prohibitory orders have been enforced in six police stations. Anyone who tries to take the law into their hands will be prosecuted."