What is the BJP's Demand for a Statement from Karnataka's Home Minister Regarding Dharmasthala Murders?

Bengaluru, Aug 12 (NationPress) The BJP in Karnataka brought the Dharmasthala murders to the forefront of discussions in the Assembly on Tuesday, urging Home Minister G. Parameshwara to clarify the situation and dispel the rampant rumors spreading through social media and within communities. BJP MLA and State General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar raised this issue during Zero Hour, highlighting that the past 12 to 13 days have seen various developments targeting the revered religious site.

“We support the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and welcome the quest for truth. However, it appears that under the guise of investigation, there are attempts to tarnish the reputation of a Hindu religious center,” he stated.

He emphasized, “The narratives on social media indicate a clear targeting of Dharmasthala. This is an affront to our faith and dedication. Despite 16 sites being excavated, as per the claims of an unidentified complainant, nothing substantial has been discovered.”

Sunil Kumar called on the state government to put an end to these rumors, questioning the direction of the SIT's investigation, and urged for information to be shared to prevent further escalation. “Authorities should not continue excavating countless sites based on unverified claims. Those spreading misinformation should face consequences,” he insisted.

He further noted the need to uphold the sanctity of the Dharmasthala pilgrimage center and sought clarity from the Home Minister on the investigation's status. “How many additional sites are going to be excavated?” he asked.

In response, Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified that following a complaint and a call from the local community on July 19, the SIT was established and the investigation is ongoing. He affirmed that the probe should conclude within a specified timeframe. “It’s impractical to excavate numerous sites. The SIT will provide a report once the investigation reaches a certain milestone, and I will address the assembly then,” he stated.

Former Minister and BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar pointed out that Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had previously asserted that the Mangaluru police were capable of handling the investigation, implying that the SIT was formed under pressure from left-wing groups.

In clarification, Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated, “We are not biased towards any faction. Our goal is to uncover the truth.”

Speaker U.T. Khader indicated that a discussion about the case would be permitted on Wednesday. Home Minister Parameshwara reiterated that he could not provide a statement without an interim report.

BJP MLA Sunil Kumar insisted on at least a progress update on the investigation. On July 11, an anonymous complainant claimed he was compelled to bury the bodies of sexually assaulted women and girls in Dharmasthala and sought the exhumation of the remains in his presence, alleging signs of sexual assault on the victims.

This led to the formation of the SIT. After the initial investigations, SIT Chief Mohanty reported no significant evidence had been gathered from the excavated locations. However, later reports revealed a torn red blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi were recovered from the first burial site. Additionally, the whistleblower allegedly submitted a skull recovered from one of the graves to the SIT.

On August 7, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed that the SIT had recovered a male skeleton and bones during their excavation, which have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).