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Fearing for his life, a Dalit man who approached the police claiming he was forced to bury several victims of rape and murder over two decades while employed at the Dharmasthala temple, has now sought police protection. In an application submitted under Karnataka’s Witness Protection Scheme on Saturday, July 5, the man, who was working in the temple as a sanitation worker, reiterated his commitment to expose the people behind the killings.
However, he has said that he would co-operate with any investigation only if he and his family are given protection by the police.
The application has been filed through the man’s Bengaluru-based lawyers, Ojaswi Gowda and Sachin Deshpande. On July 3, the two lawyers filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala police station, which registered an FIR on July 4.
The man, who has chosen not to reveal his identity, has alleged that while he was employed as a sanitation worker under the Dharmasthala temple administration between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to dispose of numerous bodies, including those of women and minors who had been sexually assaulted and murdered. He claimed that he was regularly threatened with death and physical harm if he refused to comply.
The man has not yet named specific individuals in the complaint, stating that several of those involved are powerful and have the means to silence him. He said he would disclose the names only after receiving protection for himself and his family.
In his complaint to the police, which was released by his lawyers to the media, the man has said, “I am ready to disclose the full details of all the accused persons, including the names and their specific roles, as soon as I and my family are granted protection under the Witness Protection Act 2018. I am filing this complaint with full knowledge of the consequences of submitting false information. I confirm that the above is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
The complainant has stated in writing that he is willing to assist the investigation by pointing out burial sites and has submitted photographic evidence of one such body. He has also said he is ready to undergo a polygraph or other tests to verify his claims.
Police in Dakshina Kannada have registered a case under Section 211(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after obtaining court permission. They have said the allegations will be investigated per the law.
Under the Witness Protection Scheme, a district-level committee headed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge is the Competent Authority to make decisions on the protection of witnesses. The committee, which also includes the jurisdictional police chief and the head of prosecution, will make decisions on appropriate protective measures after the police submit a Threat Analysis Report.
Based on the threat assessment, the district-level committee can initiate appropriate protection measures, ranging from police escort or in-camera trial proceedings to relocation, and even a change of identity.
