Bengaluru, May 5 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath on Monday demanded that the ongoing probe into the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), alleging the involvement of elements from outside the state.

Speaking to reporters here, Vishwanath said, "Suhas Shetty was a Hindu leader. We had strongly protested his murder. Those who have committed this crime are terrorist-like individuals. This is not merely a local issue, people from outside Karnataka are also involved."

Reiterating his party’s demand for a central agency probe, the BJP MLA said only the NIA could bring out the full truth behind the killing and expose the larger network, if any, behind the conspiracy.

Shetty was murdered under suspicious circumstances earlier this week, sparking political outrage and public demonstrations across parts of the state, especially coastal Karnataka.

The state police have formed a special team to investigate the case, but the BJP has maintained that a deeper conspiracy may be at play and has pressed for central intervention.

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