Minority News
What Does the Fact-Finding Report Reveal About Mohammed Ashraf’s Mob Lynching in Mangalore?
A Betrayal of the Constitutional Promise
Mangalore- Human rights organizations, including PUCL-Karnataka, APCR-Karnataka, and AILAJ-Karnataka, have released a damning fact-finding report on the chilling mob lynching of Mohammed Ashraf, a 39-year-old Muslim ragpicker, brutally killed in broad daylight on April 27, 2025, in Kudupu village, Mangalore.
Despite two months having passed, the Karnataka state has failed to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor, provide Ashraf’s family with the post-mortem report, or disburse victim compensation as mandated by the Supreme Court’s Tehseen Poonawalla judgment and Karnataka’s Government Order (HD 01 CRR 2023, dated September 27, 2023). The fact finding report exposes police and state complicity, investigative lapses, and a pervasive climate of religious polarization in Dakshina Kannada, calling for urgent action to restore the rule of law, protect the fundamental right to life, and uphold human dignity.
The lynching occurred on April 27 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a kachcha road between Bhatarhalli Devasthana and a cricket ground, where a mob attacked Ashraf while a cricket match was ongoing. By 5:00 p.m., police were informed of the body, and senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Law and Order and the Commissioner of Police, visited the scene.
An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was filed, and a lookout notice was issued to identify the deceased. Rumors began circulating that Ashraf had shouted “Pakistan Zindabad,” a claim later propagated by the Home Minister, Dr. G. Parameshwar, despite no evidence. Local media amplified these rumors, and by 7:00 p.m., the Police Commissioner urged the media to refrain from spreading unverified claims.
On April 28, local activists, including former corporators and Congress leaders, visited the police station, and media sources confirmed the incident as a mob lynching. That evening, the Police Commissioner downplayed the severity, claiming no grievous injuries were apparent, despite conducting a post-mortem at Wenlock District Hospital without the family’s presence. An FIR was registered late that night based on a complaint by Deepak Kumar.
The fact-finding team noted the following particularly alarming findings:
1. Public Indifference: While 20 people have been named in the FIR and a cricket match was ongoing when the incident took place, it is alarming that none on the spot made any attempts to either stop the lynching or to call the police.
2. Climate of Fear: Although it was people at the spot of the crime who had tipped off local activists about the lynching, bringing the issue to light, none of the attempts made by the fact-finding team to talk to them yielded results. This indicates a pervasive atmosphere of hate in the region, where speaking out the truth can prove to be costly.
3. State-Sponsored False Narrative: The unverified claim that Ashraf had shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ – initially aired by the Home Minister of the state himself with scant respect for the rule of law and then widely peddled by the media – is deeply concerning.
4. Police Complicity: The presence of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) and the Commissioner of Police at the crime scene, yet their failure to immediately register an FIR, highlights a significant lapse in duty and potential complicity.
The fact-finding team identified several critical failures in the investigation:
Delayed FIR Registration: Despite clear evidence of a violent death, the police initially registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) instead of an FIR. This delay allowed crucial evidence to be destroyed and provided time for the mob members to abscond. The UDR was also not sent to the Magistrate as legally mandated under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
False Narratives and Media Complicity: The Home Minister propagated the unverified and distorted claim that Ashraf shouted "Pakistan Zindabad." This narrative, amplified by certain media outlets, diverted attention from the crime itself and instead focused on demonizing the victim, adding immense distress to Ashraf's family.
Lack of Diligence at Crime Scene: Anonymous Eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence collected by the fact-finding team reveal that police found cricket players and two-wheelers near the body at the scene. Yet, no immediate action was taken to secure the area, call upon for investigation all present on the spot or to track the vehicles, [CCTV] all of which is indicative of a deliberate laxity in investigations.
Missing Documentation and Information Sharing: The family was not provided with copies of the UDR or the post-mortem report. The police's assertion that senior officers were unaware of the lynching sounds suspicious given that senior officials of the city were at the spot alongside the inspector, who as per the suspension orders, was aware about the lynching. This raises questions about accountability and potential cover-ups.
Absconding Key Figures: Ravindra Nayak, husband of a former BJP corporator and supposedly, one of the key organizers of the cricket match, was reported to be present at the crime scene, yet, he absconded and was not immediately named in the FIR, despite police allegedly seeking his whereabouts. Police has not sufficiently investigated his role.
In Contempt of the Supreme Court Directives: The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), designated as the nodal officer for implementing the Supreme Court’s Tehseen Poonawalla judgment on mob lynching, exhibited a lack of knowledge about the judgment itself, indicating a systemic failure in adhering to critical legal precedents for preventing and addressing mob lynching.
Bail on Technicalities: Several accused were granted bail on grounds of their names not appearing in the initial FIR, delay in filing, or perceived lack of motive. This outcome is directly linked to the police’s investigative failures, including insufficient evidence collection and a lack of urgency in building a cohesive case.
The report concludes with a call for immediate and long-term actions to restore justice, human dignity, and the rule of law in Dakshina Kannada:
Ensure that the order of the Supreme Court in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v Union of India [AIR 2018 SC 3354] is strictly enforced and all preventive, remedial and punitive measures required thereunder immediately enforced.
Transfer the Investigation of the case to the CID immediately.
Immediately appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for the prosecution of Crime No. 37/25 of Mangaluru Rural Police Station.
Disburse compensation to the family of Mohammed Ashraf as per the Supreme Court decision in Tehseen Poonawalla and GO Order Number: HD 01 CRR 2023, Bengaluru dated 27.09.2023.
Call for a consultative meeting with civil society in Dakshina Kannada to understand concerns related to communism, hate speech and fake news and how best the newly set-up Anti-Communalism Force can operate.
Set-up fast-track courts for the trials regarding the mob-lynching of Mohammed Ashraf.
Ensure that the following are implemented: Directions issued by the Supreme Court in Shakti Vahini vs Union of India [AIR 2018 SC 1601]
Ensure that the Guidelines on Communal Harmony, 2008 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs are strictly enforced
Ensure that the police force is representative of the social structure of the region and further that the police and administrative officials are of proven integrity, efficiency, impartiality and non-partisan outlook. It is necessary to further ensure that review of the training program of the police force is conducted to inculcate attitudes of secularism and communal harmony in the police force, including conducting special training and orientation as mandated by the Guidelines on Communal Harmony, 2008 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs cited with approval by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Pravasi Bhalai Sanghatan v. Union of India AIR 2014 SC 1591.
Ensure that there is no parallel administration to the Government of Karnataka and in particular take stern action as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against members of all Hindutva organizations engaged in communal violence.
Establish a District Communal Harmony Cell with representatives from Police, Civil Society, Student Unions and Women's Groups.
The Deputy Collector should initiate confidence building measures through regular interactions with members of the minority community
and set aside specific days to listen to and redress grievances.
Work with the Press Club to encourage media houses and journalists to ensure broadcast guidelines under the Cable Television Network (Regulations)Act are followed.
Work with all ULBs and Panchayats in the district to organise peace meetings in their jurisdictions
Public online tracker of (a) number of communal‑tension FIRs filed, (b) investigations pending, (c) prosecutions under hate‑speech/lynching provisions—so civil society can monitor follow‑through.
Ensure suo-moto registrations of FIR as directed by the Supreme Court in in Shaheen Abdullah vs Union of India (Order dated 28.04.2023 in W.P. (Civil) No. 943/2021).
Ensure that an FIR is registered in every single case of hate crime, communal policing or communal violence, and in cases where the victims are in fear to file a complaint, register a suo-moto complaint in that regard. A circular to this effect should be issued.
Publicize a single number/app to report rumours, hate speech, suspicious gatherings—automatically alerting both police control room
Ensure that investigation is conducted in regard to all cases of hate crime and communal policing expeditiously.
Ensure that the police are trained and sensitized to safeguard Constitutional governance in the State with particular reference to concerns of hate crimes and communal policing.
Ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their fundamental rights without fear and take effective action to dispel the climate of fear that has gripped Dakshina Kannada and is preventing its citizens from exercising their fundamental rights
Issue a SOP to implement the Tehseen Poonawalla judgement of the Supreme Court on Mob-lynching, similar to what has been done by the Puducherry Police.
At such times of heightened communal divide, we call upon the civil society at large and concerned citizenry to build bridges, and hold both, the state and police administration responsible for their actions/inactions and uphold the spirit espoused in the constitution.
This fact-finding report is an endeavour to hold those responsible for the lynching of Mohammed Ashraf accountable. The report brings to fore the extent of dehumanisation of the Muslims in the region and the continued communal propaganda leading to a “Lost Fraternity”. It also reveals the complicity of the State in this hate crime.
In the words of the Jabbar, Mohammed Ashraf's brother, “This should be the last lynching. No one ever again should be lynched. All those who lynched him should pay the price for their crime. True justice for Ashraf would be when a strong message is sent against lynching and hatred.”
For more information contact:
Adv Manavi (PUCL - Karnataka) - 8489272331
Shashank SR (PUCL - Karnataka) - 96638 88718
Read Full report here-:
https://pucl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lost-Fraternity-A-Mob-Lynching-in-Broad-Daylight-PUCL-June-2025.pdf
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