Large gatherings have been banned in Mangaluru until Saturday morning, following the murders of Mohammad Fazil and Bharatiya Janata Party youth leader Praveen Nettaru this week. Police have increased security in the Dakshina Kannada district as well as neighbouring Udupi, fearing more killings and violence. Mangaluru police commissioner N Shashi Kumar also stated that liquor stores in the area had been asked to close, and nearly two dozen checkpoints, including along the Kerala border, had been set up. He also urged residents not to leave their homes after 10 p.m., despite the fact that no curfew has been imposed.

On Thursday night, Mohammad Fazil, 23, was ‘brutally attacked by 4-5 people. “… attacked with a lethal weapon… immediately shifted to a hospital (but) declared dead,” Shashi Kumar said. Fazil’s killing follows that of Nettaru, a BJP worker murdered in the Bellare area of the district.

“We are taking up a complaint of an eyewitness who was with the deceased during the incident and a case of murder (has been filed) in Surathkal Police Station.” the top cop said.

“Keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation in imp areas under Mangaluru City Commissionerate, we've imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144,” he also said, adding that Muslim community leaders had been asked to perform Friday prayers at home ‘in the larger interest of law and order’.

“Motive behind incident and identity of culprits is being investigated... I appeal to all citizens to not succumb to any rumours being spread by vested-interest groups,” Shashi Kumar said.

Araga Jnanendra - the Karnataka home minister already under fire over Nettaru’s murder – has condemned the killing of Mohammad Fazil and said the perpetrators will be punished.

Meanwhile, on Thursday two people with suspected links to the Popular Front of India were arrested in connection with Nettaru's killing.