Are Activists Threatening the Life of 'Mask Man' Chinnaiah? Police Protection Sought
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chinnaiah seeks police protection due to alleged threats against his life.
- The SIT had previously arrested him for misleading information.
- He claims to have been forced to bury victims of a mass murder case.
- Calls for a high-level investigation into the allegations have intensified.
- His protections under the Witness Protection Act have been revoked.
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Dec 20 (NationPress) Chinnaiah, often referred to as the “mask man” and the key complainant in a shocking alleged mass murder case, has reported to the police that he is experiencing serious threats to his life and has requested police protection, according to officials on Saturday.
Previously, Chinnaiah was arrested for allegedly providing misleading information to the police regarding the mass murder incident and was recently released on bail. He has lodged a complaint against five individuals: activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattennanavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayanth, and YouTuber M.D. Sameer.
In his complaint, he has requested protection for himself and his spouse. This complaint was submitted at the Belthangady police station in the Mangaluru district.
Further information regarding this situation is awaited.
It is noteworthy that the SIT apprehended Chinnaiah, known as the mask man, in connection with the alleged Dharmasthala murders on August 23.
He faced arrest for disseminating false information about the case. Investigators from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) who interrogated him at length concluded that he had been misleading the police.
In a significant update on July 11, Chinnaiah, then identified only as an anonymous complainant, appeared in court in the Mangaluru district and provided testimony. He claimed he was coerced into burying the remains of women and girls who had been raped and murdered in Dharmasthala.
He requested that the bodies be exhumed in his presence and asserted that the victims displayed evident signs of sexual assault. According to him, the bodies were found without clothing and had sustained injuries indicative of violent sexual abuse.
These allegations sent shockwaves throughout Karnataka.
In the wake of his statements, a retired Supreme Court judge and several activists called for a Supreme Court or High Court-monitored investigation into the alleged Dharmasthala murders.
Additionally, Chinnaiah, then known as the whistleblower, allegedly submitted a skull retrieved from one of the burial sites to the SIT.
He was initially protected under the Witness Protection Act and provided with necessary facilities. However, recent reports from police sources indicate that this protection has now been revoked.