Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the police would investigate allegations by a man that many bodies were buried in Dharmasthala a few years ago.
The Home Minister made the remarks in Bengaluru on Thursday, July 10, in response to a question from journalists regarding the recent disturbing allegations about bodies being buried in Dharmasthala, a village in Dakshina Kannada district famous for the Manjunatha temple.
A former sanitation worker employed by the Dharmasthala temple has alleged that he was forced by temple administrators to bury many bodies, including those of women and girls who appeared to have been sexually assaulted, between 1995 and 2014. He filed a complaint with the Dharmasthala police through his lawyers on July 3 saying that he would provide details about the burials if he was given witness protection. An FIR was registered the next day. The police however appeared to have taken little action in launching an investigation.
Speaking to journalists in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said, “One individual has made (the allegations), that is what they are saying. The individual (who has made the allegations) has not given any complaint, but on his behalf some advocates have given a complaint. The man has to give the statement before the legal authorities. Let us see what he has to say once the statement comes, The police will investigate.”
TNM had reported that the man was supposed to give a statement to a judicial magistrate on Wednesday, July 9, but that he backed out after talks with the police and his lawyers hit a deadlock.
Superintendent of Police K Arun did not respond to calls or messages regarding whether or not the police had started investigating the man’s allegations and whether or not he had been granted protection under the Witness Protection Scheme 2018.