Four days after the killing of Deepak Rao a BJP worker , the Mangaluru city police are investigating the murder of  BJP worker Deepak Rao from all angles. Police officers are enquiring whether killing was linked to political rivalry or could be including cannabis racket, or whether it was a  supari killing , communal rivalry and some old personal rivalry are not being ruled out.

Senior police officials questioned Mohammed Naushad and Mohammed Irshan and said they have definite leads. Since two other accused Mohammed alias Pinky Nawaz and Rizwan alias Ijju  who received bullet injuries on their foot are undergoing treatment, their questioning would be done after they are discharged, an official told the media.

Police say that Rao, who was also associated in community services in the region, was apparently opposed to increasing drug menace in the locality thus becoming the target of those involved in drug peddling. Some of the accused are allegedly not only drug addicts, but were also into peddling drugs.

While Rao is believed to have had also received threats from the accused for having earlier recorded a video of removal of buntings of a local function.The accused had reportedly threatened Rao: “Delete the video clipping or you will be deleted”. This allegation was reiterated by family members of Rao in their complaint to the police.

On the same day in Manguluru  another man , 47 year old Bashir was attacked by strangers. The Police are probing if the two incidents could be linked . The condition of Bashir, proprietor of a small eatery at Kottara, who was fatally assaulted on Wednesday night, continues to be critical. Police have got a hazy CCTV footage of the assault on Bashir and are investigating more CCTV footages in neighbourhood. Doctors at A.J. Hospital told police that they cannot assure anything for next days about Bashir who received several stab injuries on his head, face and chest.

The incidents have however triggered a blame game in the political circles with the BJP rallying behind Deepak Rao’s family. The incidents like several in the past in the region are getting a communal colour , even while the police is yet to finish the enquiry.