In the wake of escalating communal tensions following the recent murder of a youth in Dakshina Kannada district, the Karnataka government has initiated a series of transfers and appointments within the state police department. These changes, announced on Thursday, May 29, 2025, include the replacement of the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner and several Superintendents of Police in the region.

Anupam Agrawal, who previously served as the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner, has been transferred and appointed as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Economic Offence Wing in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He is replaced by Sudheer Kumar Reddy, a 2010 batch IPS officer, who was serving as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in the Intelligence Department.

The government has also transferred the Dakshina Kannada district Superintendent of Police, Yatish N. He will be replaced by Arun K, who was previously the Udupi Superintendent of Police. Yatish N has not yet been assigned a new posting. Taking Arun K's place as the SP of Udupi district will be Hariram Shankar, who previously served in the Intelligence Department. Furthermore, Iada Martin Marbaniang, the police commissioner of Belagavi city, has been replaced by Borase Bhushan Gulabrao, who was previously the Deputy Inspector General of Police in the Cyber Crime and Narcotics wing of the Criminal Investigation Department.

These changes follow closely on the heels of the government's decision to establish a special action force aimed at addressing communal incidents. The recent murders in Dakshina Kannada have stoked communal tensions, prompting the government to take swift action to restore law and order in the region. The task force will be headed by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-level officer and will be activated in three districts - Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga.

The reshuffle within the police department also comes amidst growing discontent within the local Congress party. Several leaders of the Congress' Minority Cell in Dakshina Kannada district have resigned from their posts, expressing frustration over the government's perceived failure to curb communal violence. The leaders are reportedly upset over the recent murder of Abdul Rahiman, among other incidents.

The coastal city of Mangaluru has witnessed a series of violent incidents in recent times. Earlier this month, a former Bajrang Dal member was murdered, which was followed by the killing of a pick-up driver and secretary of a local mosque. These incidents have created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust in the region, prompting calls for immediate action from community leaders and political figures.