Dharmasthala mass burial case: SIT searches in new location, no skeletal remains found

Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing into the mass burial case in Dharmasthala carried out a search in a new location inside the forest area of Boliyar along the Dharmasthala–Subrahmanya road, on Friday.

The SIT officers, accompanied by the complainant witness and other members involved in the investigation, visited the site. Puttur Assistant Commissioner Stella Varghese, SIT SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, and other officials were present during the search. However, no signs of skeletal remains were found, SIT sources said.

On Friday, the SIT team, along with the complainant witness, ventured about 3 km from Dharmasthala into the Boliyar forest. The witness reportedly identified a spot located around half a kilometre deep inside the forest.

The 13th location near the Dharmasthala vented dam was not excavated due to its proximity to the dam. There are plans to deploy Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in that area.

So far, exhumation has been carried out at 14 locations. Initially, the witness had pointed out 13 locations to the SIT, and later, two more were shown by him and excavated. 

After a clash between two groups at Pangala in Dharmasthala on August 6, district police tightened security around the SIT operations. The path leading into the forest was cordoned off with a tape, and police personnel remained on site until the operation concluded.

Meanwhile, two witnesses have come forward, stating they recognise the complainant witness. They have requested the SIT to include them in future searches at locations identified by the complainant witness. They have also expressed willingness to independently show other locations.

SIT can file FIR 

The state government has designated the Special Investigation Team (SIT) as a Police Station.   

In an order dated August 6, it said an officer of the rank of Police Inspector or above appointed to the SIT has been declared as the "Station House Officer" (SHO) under Section 2(1)(r) of the BNSS, 2023, thereby granting them full authority to act as an SHO for investigation purposes.

The government has also delegated powers to the SIT to conduct investigations and submit final reports to the court in accordance with the provisions of the BNSS, 2023.  

Earlier, the  SIT team had to inform the jurisdictional police station (Dharmasthala after they trace skeletal remains during the exhumation process. With the new power, the SIT team only can register FIR.