The Karnataka government has formally constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe grave allegations of mass graves, unexplained disappearances and crimes against women and students reported in the Dharmasthala region over the last two decades. This move follows mounting public outcry and demands from the State Commission for Women for an independent and comprehensive probe into numerous unresolved cases.
In a government order, issued on Saturday, it noted, “It found it appropriate to form a special investigation team to probe the crime registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Dharmasthala Police Station and all other criminal cases registered/to be registered in other police stations across the state of Karnataka in connection with it.”
Women’s commission in the state urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to constitute an SIT of senior police officers to carry out a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the cases of missing women and female students, unnatural death murder cases, and cases of rape in the Dharmasthala area during the past 20 years.
According to the government order issued on July 20, the SIT is tasked not only with investigating the case registered at Dharmasthala Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) but also with taking over all connected cases registered or likely to be registered across Karnataka. The SIT will centralize the investigation under one authority to prevent fragmentation and ensure accountability.
Catalyst: Testimonies and Media Exposure
The decision follows a July 14 letter by the State Women’s Commission citing disturbing testimonies, including that of a family whose daughter disappeared and a startling court statement by a daily-wage labourer who alleged he personally buried over 100 bodies near Dharmasthala. His claims, supported by physical indicators near the Nethravathi River, prompted preliminary police action, including plans to exhume human remains. His identity has been withheld due to security concerns.
This decision follows a July 14 letter by the State Women’s Commission referring to troubling testimonies including that of a family whose daughter went missing and an astounding testimony made in court by a daily-wage labourer who claimed he personally buried over 100 bodies in the vicinity of Dharmasthala. His claims, which seemed to corroborated by physical indications near the Nethravathi River, led to some preliminary action by the police, including the intent to exhume human remains. His identity has been withheld for security reasons.
SIT Leadership and Mandate
The SIT will be led by Director General of Police (Internal Security Division), Pranav Mohanty. It will include senior officials: DIG (Recruitment) M.N. Anucheth, DCP (CAR HQ) Soumyalatha, and SP (ISD) Jitendra Kumar Dayama. Operating out of the Dakshina Kannada district police office, the team will be reinforced with necessary personnel and resources. The SIT has been directed to submit regular updates to the Director General and Inspector General of Police and to expedite its final investigation report to the state government.
“The aforementioned case, and all other criminal cases registered to be registered in other police stations across the state of Karnataka in connection with it, shall be transferred to the special investigation team,” the government order said.
Whistleblower Protection and Legal Concerns
Concerns about the safety of witnesses and the integrity of investigations prompted the legal representatives of the principal whistleblower to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. They alleged that the police had been leaking sensitive information, also putting pressure upon witnesses not to reveal certain evidence, thereby compromising transparency in the investigation process.
This inquiry is a major test of Karnataka’s institutional commitment to justice, especially in cases that have long been neglected, often involving underprivileged victims. As the SIT literally and metaphorically tries to dig deeper, it becomes an even greater challenge for the SIT to ensure legal rigor while simultaneously rebuilding public trust in law enforcement.
