A coalition of civil rights organisations on Saturday released a damning fact-finding report on the lynching of Mohammed Ashraf in Kudupu, labelling it a “betrayal of the promise of the Constitution” and sharply criticising the authorities for their inaction and bias.
The report, titled “Lost Fraternity: A Mob Lynching in Broad Daylight”, was jointly compiled by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) – Karnataka, the All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ) – Karnataka, and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) – Karnataka. It was launched at the Mangaluru Press Club in the presence of activists, lawyers, and Ashraf’s brother, Jabbar.
Mavalli Shankar, state convenor of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvaada), condemned the government’s failure to ensure impartial investigations, particularly in cases involving marginalised communities.
“No elected official has even visited the bereaved family. This points to a breakdown of the rule of law. The fraternity that once defined our social fabric is eroding,” he said, joining Jabbar’s emotional appeal to ensure that Ashraf’s killing is the last of its kind.
Ashraf, a scrap collector originally from Kerala’s Kottakkal, had been living with his family in Wayanad after their house in Parappur was seized by a bank due to an unpaid loan. On April 27, while watching a cricket match near the Batra Kallurthi temple in Kudupu, Ashraf was brutally assaulted after allegedly drinking water kept nearby. According to eyewitnesses, the attack escalated when Sachin T confronted him, followed by a group led by Ravindra Nayak, husband of BJP corporator Sangeetha Nayak, who assaulted him with a cricket bat and other weapons.
Ashwini KP, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, reminded authorities of India’s obligations under international law, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. She criticised the media’s role in communalising incidents and law enforcement’s complacency in preventing hate crimes.
“Since the Pahalgam incident, Muslims have been demonised. This vilification by the media has paved the way for violence,” she said.
Maitreyi Krishnan, president of AILAJ, termed the lynching a clear hate crime and a violation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on mob violence. She cited the 2018 Tehseen Poonawalla verdict, which mandates strict police procedures in lynching cases. “The police delayed filing the FIR and flouted protocol. Disciplinary action must follow,” she asserted.
Legal expert Vinay Sreenivasa pointed out that several accused were granted bail due to procedural lapses, reflecting the state’s negligence. “Rather than enforcing existing laws on hate crimes, the focus has been on proposing new ones. This is an alarming sign of systemic failure,” he said, calling for consultations between civil society and the government to reinforce accountability mechanisms.
Mohammed Hayyan of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) Karnataka also expressed dismay at the authorities’ handling of the case and urged the public to raise their voices in support of Ashraf’s family.
The coalition has called for the investigation to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), appointment of a special public prosecutor, and adequate compensation to Ashraf’s family under the victim relief schemes.
Ashraf’s brother Jabbar, speaking with visible pain, said, “Let this be the last lynching. No other family should have to suffer this way.”
The report paints a grim picture of the communal atmosphere in Dakshina Kannada, where recent incidents have fractured inter-community relations, disrupted daily life, and affected local economic activity. It warns of rising distrust and grief that now defines interactions among neighbours and communities.
“It is now up to the state and civil society to rebuild broken bridges,” the report concludes. “The administration must act swiftly to prevent further deterioration, restore public trust, and work empathetically with affected communities to rebuild solidarity. Our recommendations are steps in that direction.”
