Bengaluru: The Karnataka government Monday said that the probe by the special investigation team (SIT) into allegations of mass burials in the temple town of Dharmasthala has temporarily been stalled as officials wait for the analysis of earlier discoveries.
Speaking in the legislative assembly in the ongoing monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that the SIT has collected soil samples and other materials found at the excavation sites so far. “All the analysis needs to be done… chemical and DNA analysis. If no human DNA traces are found, it leads to another conclusion. If the bones have melted (in the acidic soil) but found in the DNA analysis, it will be probed. Till that happens, the SIT has decided to stall the investigation. We have to wait for those results and then the investigation moves forward,” Parameshwara told the house Monday.
His statements come amidst the intensifying campaign by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and members of Siddaramaiah’s own government, claiming that the entire Dharmasthala episode was part of a “massive conspiracy”.
Parameshwara said that the SIT has exhumed human remains from two of the 13 identified sites and they need to be analysed before the probe begins.
On 4 July, a former sanitation worker had filed a police complaint, claiming that he was coerced into burying “hundreds” of dead bodies. He had said that many of these bodies were of women who bore signs of “sexual assault, torture and were likely murdered”.
The former sanitation worker alleged that between 1995 and 2014, he was coerced into burying these bodies by people “connected to the Dharmasthala temple administration and other staff members”.
But since then, several political leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Parameshwara have come out claiming a conspiracy against the temple authorities even though their own government appointed SIT is yet to complete its probe.
Also read: The dead speak in Dharmasthala. Sinister story behind temple town’s mass graves, unearthed
‘Unholy nexus’
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah ordered the formation of an SIT on 19 July, almost three weeks after the allegations first surfaced. But since then, there have been several allegations and counter-allegations levelled by those siding with the temple administration and those opposing them. Siddaramaiah has been caught in the crossfire.
On Monday, Shivakumar reiterated his stand that there was a conspiracy. He said the issue was raised in the Congress legislature party meeting and the CM has assured that action will be taken “against all those behind this and whoever has lied”.
“The investigation has been given to senior officials and we trust them. The CM goes to the nature care facility at Dharmasthala every year for treatment, he has faith in Dharmasthala,” he said.
“There should be Dharma (religion) in politics, there shouldn’t be politics in Dharma. Don’t politicise this (issue),” Shivakumar said.
BJP leaders Sunday travelled to Dharmasthala in a huge convoy to demonstrate their support for the temple administration.
BJP legislator Sunil Kumar demanded that the government reveal the reasons for forming an SIT and accused them of enabling a smear campaign.
The BJP had maintained a stoic silence initially but their voices grew louder when it was reported that the SIT has not been able to unearth any credible evidence so far.
ThePrint reported that some of the claims made by the former sanitation worker had not materialised. This included the skull he exhumed himself, claiming that it was of a woman who he allegedly buried many years ago. According to senior officials, this skull, which the former sanitation worker presented before the judicial magistrate, turned out to be that of a male. Skeletal remains found in spot number 6 and 11 during excavation also belonged to males, according to officials who spoke to ThePrint.
The SIT brought in a Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) to survey spot number 13 where the complainant claimed he had buried around 70-80 bodies. No human remains have been found in this site either.
“No one is trying to mix religion or politics in this issue. Our common interest is that the truth comes out. There is some nexus. At one point it has guided and continues to guide the government, Kerala politicians…. This is an unholy nexus which is setting the agenda,” Suresh Kumar, senior BJP leader, said in the house.
‘Silence the media’
Since the controversy began, there have been several parties that have approached the courts. On Monday, BJP leaders suggested to the government that the media should itself regulate coverage of the issue. Suresh Kumar said that there was a ‘social media trial’ underway. “(The) government should take the first step and tell the media that until the SIT report comes out, no one should report about it,” Suresh Kumar said.
The story has generated interest across the country with relentless local, national and international media coverage.
ThePrint had earlier cited a police officer stating that the SIT’s mandate was not to dig up dead bodies but to investigate the claims of murder, rape and torture and go after those cases only.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: ‘Exhume body, reopen case’: Kin of teen murdered 38 yrs ago to SIT probing Dharmasthala ‘mass burials’
