Hindutva leader and founder of the Puthila Parivara, Arun Kumar Puthila, has received a formal notice from the Karnataka Police regarding a proposed banishment from Dakshina Kannada district. The notice, dated May 28, was issued by the assistant commissioner of Puttur under Section 58 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. Puthila has been asked to appear for a hearing on June 6, either personally or through a legal representative, to present his defence.

Authorities warned that if he does not attend the hearing, it will be considered a lack of interest in contesting the proposal, and a decision will be made based solely on available records. This move comes at a time when the coastal region is witnessing growing communal tensions and violence.

Puthila, who had rebelled against the BJP after being denied a ticket in the 2023 Assembly elections, lost from the Puttur constituency by 4,149 votes to Congress candidate Ashok Kumar Rai.

The police action follows a recent reshuffling of top police officials in the coastal belt after two shocking murders suspected to be communal in nature. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal has been moved and replaced by Sudheer Kumar Reddy, while Yatish N, SP of Dakshina Kannada, has been succeeded by Arun K Hariram Shankar.

The killing of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty has further arisen tensions. Shetty, who had few cases registered against him and was the main accused in the murder of Mohammed Fazil in 2022, was recently murdered. So far, 11 people have been imprisoned.

On May 27, another man, Abdul Rahiman, was murdered while discharging sand, and his friend remains seriously injured in ICU. The situation has triggered intensify police attention in the district as investigations continue.