Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the chilling claims of mass burials in Dharmasthala, has initiated its field-level site inspections at locations pointed out by the complainant.
On Sunday morning, SIT officials—including investigators Jitendra Kumar Dayama, Anucheth, and district SP C.A. Simon—gathered at the SIT’s Belthangady office to plan the day’s visit. The whistleblower arrived at the office around 11 AM, where officers held detailed discussions with him. He signed relevant documents before the team proceeded to one of the key locations mentioned in his statement.
Amid heavy security, the team reached the Netravathi Snanaghatta area near Dharmasthala. The site in question, reportedly under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department, is where a human skull was allegedly unearthed earlier. The SIT conducted a formal site examination here as part of its verification process.
For the past two days, SIT officials have intensely questioned the complainant for nearly 14 hours, gathering critical information. With today’s field visit, the probe has moved from preliminary interrogation to active verification of his claims. The SIT office in Belthangady will now serve as the operational hub for the investigation moving forward.
Sources suggest that after today’s site visit, the complainant may be presented before a magistrate. Subsequently, a systematic inspection of other burial sites—allegedly known to the complainant—could follow, depending on judicial procedures and findings.