Dharmasthala — The Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by DGP (Internal Security) Pronab Mohanty continued its interrogation of a former sanitation worker for the second consecutive day on Sunday, in connection with explosive allegations that he was forced to bury hundreds of bodies in Dharmasthala village between 1995 and 2014.

The whistle-blower — whose identity remains protected under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 — has claimed that many of the deceased were victims of sexual assault and murder, and that he fled the region after his own relative was allegedly assaulted. The SIT, which took over the case from local police on July 25, is now in the first phase of investigation, focusing solely on fact-verification.

Inconsistencies in Testimonies

Officials say there are gaps and contradictions between the whistle-blower’s statements to the media and police, prompting repeated questioning to establish a clear timeline. “He is at the core of this case,” said an official, “and further steps depend on the credibility of his account.”

The SIT is also considering brain mapping and narco-analysis tests — contingent on the whistle-blower’s consent — to further assess the veracity of his claims.

Search for Truth: Mapping and Documentation

SIT officers have begun:

  • Scrutinising missing persons records

  • Re-examining suspicious death reports

  • Interacting with residents in and around Dharmasthala

  • Inspecting suspected burial sites

    • Due to the absence of a local police station before 2016, investigators face difficulties retrieving historical FIRs and reports, requiring them to comb through 20 years of potentially incomplete or unregistered documents.

    A dedicated SIT office will soon be set up in Dharmasthala to coordinate the expanding scope of the investigation.

    Future Phases: Exhumation, DNA Analysis

    Officials stated that exhumations of suspected burial sites will only take place if site identification is consistent and corroborated. Plans are underway to:

    • Build a victim database

  • Attempt DNA profiling — though matching samples without prior records will be challenging

  • Trace unregistered missing persons cases and link them to potential victims

    • “Some areas were used for burying unclaimed bodies, which adds to the complexity,” a senior officer noted. “Even if remains are recovered, proving rape or murder decades later will be extremely difficult, especially with only skeletal evidence.”

    The case stems from an FIR registered on July 4, following the whistle-blower’s complaint. The SIT comprises top officers including DIG M.N. Anucheth, IPS officers Soumyalatha S.K., and Jitendra Kumar Dayama, with support from 20 personnel drawn from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada.

    This high-stakes investigation — involving grave allegations of systemic abuse and cover-up — has triggered national attention and is being closely monitored for its potential legal and political fallout.