The SIT to investigate the case of alleged mass burial in Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district began its investigation on Saturday, according to officials. Top officials reached the identified SIT office set up at the Intelligence Bureau complex at Mallikatte, they added. The investigation team inspected some places in relation to the case, sources added.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, MN Anucheth, who is monitoring the investigation, has come to Mangaluru and will lead a top-level meeting with over 20 officials and staff members tasked with the SIT, a senior police official said.
Superintendent of Police Jitendra Dayama will be the IO for this case, he said.
According to reports, the team has been deployed at Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada district offices. They include inspectors and sub-inspectors from Dharmasthala, Mulki, and Byndoor police stations.
Also read: Some questions remain unanswered in Dharmasthala burial case
The SIT is likely to order internal briefings and even interrogate the anonymous complainant who had originally levied accusations against the burials. The interrogation, it is likely, would be within the SIT office at Mallikatte itself, under the oversight of DIG Anucheth.
Arrangements for recording of interrogations and proceedings through video recording facilities, as required, have been made, police sources added.
The officials of the SIT are believed to be well-equipped to carry forward the investigation both procedurally and legally, they added.
The case involves charges of mass graves at Dharmasthala, which cropped up through an anonymous complaint. As the charges are sensitive in nature, the Karnataka government set up a Special Investigation Team earlier this month. The SIT is likely to investigate the genuineness of the complaint, determine individuals involved, and check if any legal lapse was made.
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