State govt orders forming of SIT to probe Dharmasthala mass burials case

BENGALURU, MANGALURU: The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Dharmasthala mass burials case, led by senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty.

The SIT includes senior IPS officers M N Anuchet, Soumyalata and Jitendra Kumar Dayama. The team is required to regularly update the DGP&IGP on the progress of the investigation and submit its final report to the government promptly.

This development comes after allegations of mass burials at Dharmasthala, that bodies were of women and children who were raped and murdered, were buried en masse.

ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರಾರು ಶವಗಳನ್ನು ಹೂತಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರು ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ತಲೆಬರುಡೆ ದೊರಕಿದ ಸ್ಥಳ ಹಾಗೂ ನಾಪತ್ತೆಯಾದ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿನಿಯ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಸಾರ ಮಾಡಿವೆ. ಈ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಸಹಜ ಸಾವುಗಳು, ಕೊಲೆ,… pic.twitter.com/TArRdGZcU2

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 20, 2025

The case has sparked widespread concern, with advocates pushing for a thorough investigation and protection for the whistleblower. A group of concerned public-spirited lawyers met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday at the Chief Minister’s Residence ‘Krishna’ to urgently request the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged incidents of mass murder, mass rape and mass burial at Dharmasthala, said a release.

According to the release, the advocates apprised the Chief Minister of the facts surrounding these widely reported incidents. They highlighted that despite an eyewitness providing a confessional statement and an FIR being registered, the investigation appears to be handled by local police and is reportedly not progressing within the mandate of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

They urged the Chief Minister to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), monitored by an ADGP-level officer and a sitting or retired High Court Judge. They also urged comprehensive forensic support, including DNA and digital forensics, as well as video recording, for the entire investigation process.

The advocates also urged the Chief Minister to make immediate arrests of all individuals involved, regardless of their influence. The advocates also stressed that prompt intervention is crucial for upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice.