Will Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara Form an SIT Probe in Dharmasthala Murders?

Bengaluru, July 19 (NationPress) Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has unequivocally confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will not be established at this moment regarding the Dharmasthala murders, despite pressures from various activists and organizations throughout the state.

During a media briefing in Bengaluru on Saturday, Parameshwara addressed the increasing calls for an SIT, stating, "The initial investigation into the Dharmasthala murder case is currently underway. As the case is under the jurisdiction of the local police department, the designated officer is managing the investigation, including claims made by an anonymous individual who has presented allegations."

The minister questioned the practicality of initiating an SIT so early in the investigation.

"The government will evaluate further actions if deemed necessary. However, how can there be a call for a Special Investigation Team or additional investigations when the inquiry is still in its preliminary phase? If that’s the case, why do we even have a police force?" Parameshwara asked.

He added, "The Chief Minister has already addressed this issue. We will make suitable decisions based on necessity. The police department cannot operate solely on public sentiment or demands. There’s a systematic approach in place, and if it becomes essential, suitable actions will be taken."

In the meantime, the Leader of the CPI in the Rajya Sabha, P. Sandosh Kumar, has sent a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urgently requesting a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation into the crime patterns and alleged concealment in Dharmasthala, Karnataka.

"I write to you with a profound sense of duty and concern, motivated by the grief of mourning families and the alarming revelations emerging from Dharmasthala, a town sacred to millions across India for its spiritual heritage and its association with Lord Manjunath," the CPI leader expressed.

“Recent developments have unveiled a grim reality that cannot be overlooked. What once seemed like isolated incidents now clearly indicate a disturbing and systematic pattern of crimes—primarily targeting women, often silenced through coercion, and hidden with chilling impunity," he emphasized.

He also stated, "Let me stress that this plea is made in the firm belief that the spiritual sanctity of Dharmasthala must be upheld—not merely in ritual or appearance, but in authenticity, justice, and transparency. A revered town admired by devotees across India cannot remain shrouded in fear, suspicion, and concealed truths."

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Friday that his administration will not succumb to any pressure regarding the management of the alleged Dharmasthala murders case.

In a significant turn of events, on July 11, an unidentified complainant, who alleged that he was compelled to bury numerous bodies of women who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala village, appeared before a court in Karnataka’s Mangaluru district last Friday and provided his testimony.

According to his account, he escaped Dharmasthala 11 years ago.

He further claimed that the bodies of the women displayed clear signs of sexual assault.

They were found unclothed and bore injuries indicative of violent acts. These shocking revelations have left the state in disbelief.

Retired Supreme Court justices and activists have called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, overseen by the Supreme Court or the High Court, into the disturbing allegations surrounding the Dharmasthala murders involving numerous women and others.