Whistleblower Identifies Mass Burial Sites at Dharmasthala

Mangaluru: The whistleblower in the Dharmasthala ‘mass burial’ case on Monday identified about 13 locations to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) during a spot inspection (mahazar). Two armed personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF) have been deployed at each of these locations to secure the sites.

The complainant, a former sanitary worker, has alleged that during his tenure in Dharmasthala, he was forced to bury the bodies of murder and sexual assault victims. He lodged a complaint on July 3, and on July 11 deposed before the Belthangady court and submitted skeletal remains he claimed to have exhumed earlier.

The first location shown was the Snana Ghatta (bathing ghat) of the Netravati river near Dharmasthala, followed by a small hillock between the bridge and the ghat.

Officials from the PWD, survey, revenue and forest departments, along with forensic experts, ANF, KSRP and local police, accompanied. Boards with numbers were placed marking each location.

Two armed SAF personnel have been deployed at each site marked at the scene of crime to provide round-the-clock security. Sources said that geo tagging of these places too have been done.

The process concluded by around 6 pm on Monday. If any additional locations are indicated, they are likely to be inspected on Tuesday. The SIT is also expected to seek permission for exhumation at the identified sites. The SIT team had recorded the whistle blower's statement on Saturday and Sunday.

In view of the allegations, the government constituted an SIT to investigate the case. On Monday morning, the complainant along with his lawyers arrived at the SIT office in Belthangady and was taken by the SIT team, led by Internal Security Division SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, to various sites from 10.30 am