SIT to Investigate Alleged Secret Burials At Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is a popular pilgrimage centre in Dakshina Kannada and this major pilgrim centre of Karnataka has caught the attention after an ex-sanitation worker attached to Dharmasthala temple having deity Manjunatha Swamy (Lord Shiva) alleged he buried hundreds of bodies of women at the behest of Temple authorities. The mass burials are alleged to have taken place from 1995-2015
BENGALURU: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Inspector General of Police, Internal Security Division, Bengaluru Dr Pranav Mohanthy came into existence on Sunday after the State Government decided to opt for SIT investigation considering the gravity of the allegations of mass burials and missing women and girls under Dharmasthala police station limits of Dakshina Kannada district. The SIT includes IPS officers-M.N. Anucheth, Soumya Latha and Jitendra Kumar Dayama are its members.
Dharmasthala is a popular pilgrimage centre in Dakshina Kannada and this major pilgrim centre of Karnataka has caught the attention after an ex-sanitation worker attached to Dharmasthala temple having deity Manjunatha Swamy (Lord Shiva) alleged he buried hundreds of bodies of women at the behest of Temple authorities. The mass burials are alleged to have taken place from 1995-2015.
The SIT has been directed to submit its status report of the investigation to the Director General and Inspector General of Police at regular intervals. After a comprehensive investigation into the complaints of mass burials/ missing women and girls, SIT has been asked to submit its report to the State Government through DG and IGP, Karnataka.
The SIT has been constituted by the State Government on a requisition by Karnataka State Commission for Women and also taking into consideration cases registered at Dharmasthala police station under Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhitha (BNSS).
The State Government was convinced of the gravity of the allegations after several media reports threw light on mass burials and several women and girls missing under Dharmasthala police station limits and decided to constitute a SIT.
Earlier, former Judge of Supreme Court Gopala Gowda along with social activists and advocates met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with a demand to constitute a probe by SIT doubting a fair and impartial investigation by Dharmasthala police.
