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India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Karnataka Mass Grave Probe: SIT To Begin Excavation At 13th Site In Dharmasthala
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the mass grave case, will begin the final phase of excavation at the 13th burial site on Wednesday. The developments are being closely monitored, as no significant evidence has been recovered in the past 13 days of excavation in the temple town of Dharmasthala. According to sources, if nothing is found during today's operation, the excavation work is likely to be halted. An unidentified complainant had claimed that he had buried hundreds of bodies of women and girls, who were allegedly raped and murdered, across 13 sites. The SIT had marked all the locations and even excavated certain additional spots suggested by the complainant. Sources said the authorities are likely to file a petition before the court seeking permission to subject the complainant to brain mapping or a narco-analysis test to determine whether he is telling the truth. No evidence was found at the 13th burial site after an extensive search by the SIT in connection with the alleged mass grave case, at the end of excavation work on Tuesday in the temple town of Dharmasthala. The SIT conducted the excavation using a drone-mounted Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). After marking the burial site, the digging was carried out with two earthmovers until late in the evening, despite the rain. Sources confirmed that the authorities dug as deep as 18 feet but could not retrieve anything. On Wednesday, the SIT will continue excavation work using a drone-mounted Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and earth movers. Sources revealed that the unknown complainant is claiming that he has buried about 300 dead bodies of women and girls in an additional 30 sites in Dharmasthala. Meanwhile, the matter is scheduled to be discussed in the Assembly session on Wednesday. The BJP will discuss "attempts and conspiracies to defame the pilgrimage centre Dharmasthala" by an unknown complainant. About 20 BJP party legislators, including BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, have decided to visit the Dharmasthala pilgrimage centre and conduct a worship to send out a message. The BJP leaders are planning to take a trip from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala in about 200 cars with their supporters, sources stated. Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP on Tuesday had raised the issue of the Dharmasthala murders in the Assembly. BJP MLA and State General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar said, "We welcome the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and have no objection to bringing out the truth. However, under the pretext of investigation, attempts are being made to degrade and defame a Hindu religious centre."
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
26 RTI activists blacklisted, says H.K. Patil
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil informed the Legislative Assembly that 26 Right to Information (RTI) activists have been blacklisted for 'misusing the Act'. BJP MLAs V. Sunil Kumar, and S. Suresh Kumar, and, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed that many RTI activists had been misusing the Act and targeting government officials, contractors and engineers for personal gain. Mr. Sunil Kumar maintained that activists had not been allowing the public works to be completed, seeking one or the other information related to development work. Mr. Yatnal said activists have been 'blackmailing' officials and elected representatives and delaying public works. Claiming that RTI activists had been the root cause of corruption, he demanded a probe into disproportionate sources of income and assets owned by them. In a reply to K. Manantesh Shivanand (Congress) during the question hour on Tuesday, Mr. Patil said the government sacked State Information Commissioner Ravindra Gurunath Dhakappa, posted in the Kalaburagi Bench, after he was arrested by the Lokayukta Police as he allegedly received ₹1 lakh bribe through an online transfer for delivering a favourable order to an applicant. Mr. Suresh Kumar said the Act was a powerful weapon for ensuring transparency in administration, but the activists have been 'misusing it and harassing officials' seeking building plans and other documents.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dharmasthala burials case: BJP asks Home Minister to table interim report of SIT
The Opposition BJP hit out at the Stage government for 'denigrating Hindu places of worship' such as Dharamasthala in Dakshina Kannada by ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, which has so far not found evidence of the burial of over 100 bodies as claimed by a complainant. V. Sunil Kumar (BJP) raised the issue during the zero hour in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and demanded that Home Minister G. Parameshwara table an interim report of the SIT in the House. The SIT team, which had not been able to find skeletal remains, has been digging new sites shown by the complainant and providing scope for spreading rumours against the temple, he claimed. Keep in custody S. Suresh Kumar (BJP) said the SIT should keep the complainant in its custody to ensure an impartial probe into the Dharmasthala mass burial case. Now, the complainant arrives at the spots identified as burial sites accompanied by his persons claiming to be his lawyers. How can a probe be impartial if the complainant was allowed to be in the custody of advocates, he questioned. Mr. Parameshwara said he would be able to make a statement in the House only after the probe is completed and the SIT submits the report to him. However, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok demanded the Home Minister make a statement on the matter on Wednesday. Araga Jnanendra (BJP) alleged that organisations affiliated to the Left ideology were largely responsible for 'denigrating the image of the temple.'
