Dharmasthala mass burial case: Whistleblower arrested by SIT

NEW DELHI: A former sanitation worker in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala, who alleged he had been coerced into burying multiple murder victims over several years, has been arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), sources told PTI on Saturday.

The man, who worked in the temple town between 1995 and 2014, filed a complaint earlier this month claiming he was forced to dispose of bodies linked to criminal activities. He said he had revisited one of the alleged burial sites and recovered skeletal remains, submitting photographs to the authorities. Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on 4 July, a day after the complaint was submitted to the Superintendent of Police and Dharmasthala police station. The complainant, whose identity has been withheld, claimed he could identify perpetrators and point out burial sites. He also sought legal protection for himself and his family. His lawyer had said sketches of those allegedly killed would be submitted to court at a later stage. Dakshina Kannada SP Arun K said: “The complainant has claimed he secretly disposed of the bodies of those killed due to criminal activities. Burdened with guilt, he has expressed willingness to reveal details of those involved in the crimes and the burial locations, provided he and his family are given protection.” Police have not confirmed the authenticity of the skeletal remains or the number of possible victims. The allegations have unsettled Dharmasthala, better known for its spiritual and cultural heritage than for violent crime.