Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 3: The Mangaluru City police have issued a clarification in response to allegations circulating on social media regarding the selective release of photos of accused persons involved in two separate murder cases.

The clarification was prompted by false claims suggesting that the police had released photos of accused individuals in the Rural Police Station's Muhammad Ashraf murder case, but withheld them in the Bajpe police station's Suhas Shetty murder case.

Clarification on photo release protocol

According to the police, the release of photographs follows strict investigative protocols to safeguard the integrity of the legal process. In the case of the Suhas Shetty murder (Bajpe PS), the accused were not known to the victim or any eyewitnesses.

In line with standard investigative procedures, the police are required to conduct a Test Identification Parade (TIP) before identifying and releasing photos of suspects. This parade is an essential process where witnesses identify the accused from a lineup, and releasing photos prematurely could compromise the TIP process, potentially weakening the case in court.

In contrast, in the Muhammad Ashraf murder case (Rural PS), the accused were already known to local eyewitnesses. As there was no need for a TIP, the police were able to release the photos of the accused without affecting the investigation's integrity.

Police commitment to legal safeguards

The Mangaluru City Police have emphasised that they adhere strictly to legal safeguards and procedural norms in all cases. They further clarified that there is no selective treatment or bias in releasing the photos of accused persons. The department urged the public to avoid being misled by unverified social media claims.

The police also reminded citizens that such procedures are in place to ensure that investigations are carried out fairly and in accordance with the law. They asked the public to remain vigilant and refrain from sharing unverified information that could disrupt the ongoing investigation.