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SIT Demanded For Probe into Mass Burial of Human Remains at Dharmasthala

Mangaluru: Allegations of secret burials and serious crimes at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, have prompted widespread public concern and demands for a high-level probe. Political parties and progressive voices have urged the Karnataka government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a transparent and impartial probe into the alleged mass burial of human remains in Dharmasthala. The storm broke after a man, who claims to have worked as a sanitation worker in Dharmasthala from 1995 to 2014, filed a complaint earlier this month alleging that he was coerced into secretly disposing of the bodies of victims of crimes, including murder and rape. He claimed to have acted under threat to his life by his superiors. The complainant has submitted a sworn statement before a court, along with skeletal remains he says he exhumed himself. His identity has been kept confidential, at his own request and for his safety. As per the statement issued by advocates representing the complainant he was forced to bury hundreds of bodies, including those of men who were murdered and women and minors who had been sexually assaulted and killed. Among the horrifying instances he described was the burial of a minor who showed signs of rape and strangulation, and a woman whose face had been disfigured with acid. He also alleged that some men were strangled and killed. In some cases, he was instructed to burn the bodies using diesel. The complainant claims he fled in 2014, and has since lived in hiding. Recently, he returned to submit physical evidence and seek protection, while demanding an SIT probe. In the letter it is stated that he is unable to disclose the names at this stage and some of them are highly influential individuals known for eliminating anyone who opposes them. "I am prepared to reveal their names and exact roles once I receive protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, for myself and my family," the statement stated. While he has given a statement before the magistrate, it is still unclear whether he has named anyone, and if so, whom he has named. Congress spokesperson and social activist MG Hegde called on the state to take the allegations seriously. "A person has come forward and is willing to identify the burial sites. Let an SIT be formed to verify the claims. If the remains are found, a detailed probe as to those responsible for this must be conducted. If not, then the person who made the allegation should be booked. There will be clarity," Hegde told Deccan Chronicle. He warned that any delay could lead to public discontent and polarisation, adding that only a timely SIT investigation would bring clarity. "If the government forms SIT then there will be no room for any confusion," he added. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leader Anwar Sadath Bajathur went a step further, calling the case "one of the most horrifying independent India has witnessed." He questioned the state's silence and asked whether an SIT can only be formed with police consent. Addressing CM Siddaramaiah, Bajathur said- "As a socialist, you must bow to the Constitution, not to powerful administrators. Uphold your Raj Dharma." Senior lawyers and activists in Bengaluru too have demanded formation of SIT. The Dakshina Kannada police, in a press statement, stated that while a request for witness protection had been received, the complainant's advocate had disclosed sensitive details in the media, compromising anonymity. Citing Rule 7 of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, police said protection requires the cooperation and consent of the witness, including information on his whereabouts. "Despite an email sent on July 10, no details about the witness's location have been shared," the statement read. Police also noted that a petition related to the case is pending before the Supreme Court, though this was not disclosed to them by the complainant or his legal team. They further said local intelligence sources suggest the witness may abscond after exhumation, which may explain the rush to conduct it without due procedures, the statement added. The investigating officers have submitted a report to the court seeking permission to conduct brain mapping, fingerprinting, and narco-analysis tests on the complainant, subject to his consent. The police clarified that the exhumation process will be carried out only at an appropriate stage of the investigation, and in accordance with legal protocols. Amidst the shocking revelations, older cases of missing persons from the Dharmasthala region are also drawing renewed attention. The mother of Ananya Bhatt, a medical student who reportedly went missing in 2003 from the Dharmasthala temple premises, has now approached the district police seeking a fresh investigation. According to her, Ananya vanished under mysterious circumstances during a visit to Dharmasthala, and despite several attempts to trace her over the years, no progress had been made. These developments come at a time when activists and family members continue their long-standing fight for justice in the infamous Sowjanya case -- involving the alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in 2012 near Dharmasthala. Though a CBI probe was conducted, many activists believe that justice has not been served. Public protests and repeated appeals for reinvestigation have persisted over the years, reflecting a deep mistrust in how the case was handled. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the state government is awaiting a report from the police department on the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala, following which a decision will be taken on whether to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT). "We are expecting a report from the police in a day or two. The government will act according to the law," Siddaramaiah had told reporters in Mysuru.

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