Does Karnataka Government Aim to Protect or Implicate Anyone in the Mass Burial Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka government aims for transparency in mass burial investigation.
- Special Investigation Team (SIT) established to uncover facts.
- No political agenda to protect or implicate anyone.
- Excavations at burial sites ongoing with no evidence found yet.
- Public urged to refrain from speculation during investigation.
Bengaluru, July 31 (NationPress) Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated on Thursday that the Congress-led government has no intention of either shielding or implicating anyone concerning the mass grave allegations arising from a significant Hindu pilgrimage site in Mangaluru district.
While addressing media personnel in Bengaluru, Parameshwara remarked, "What prompted us to establish the Special Investigation Team (SIT)? As a government, we aim for the truth to surface, which is why we formed the SIT. Following the SIT's investigation and report submission, the facts will come to light. That's our desire - and the public's as well."
He stressed that there is no political agenda behind this action. "The government has no intention to protect or entrap anyone. It is crucial that this not be misconstrued," Parameshwara urged.
"My message is straightforward... We have already expressed that the investigation must be transparent. That is the sole agenda of our government," he emphasized.
Regarding the controversy over the SIT Chief DGP Pronab Mohanty being shortlisted for central deputation while the investigation is ongoing, Parameshwara stated, "There are numerous misconceptions. The government decided to appoint a DGP-level officer to lead the investigation, which is why Pronab Mohanty was chosen as the SIT chief. If his name appears on the central deputation list, no final decision has been made yet."
"The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), which operates under the Chief Minister, will determine whether he is sent for central deputation. No decision has been reached. Misleading posts are circulating about this matter; this is inappropriate. What interest does the government have in this?" he questioned.
In response to an inquiry, Parameshwara mentioned, "Until the investigation is finalized and the report is released, we will refrain from further comments. There should be no speculation. Our only aim is to unveil the truth. Until then, we will not provide additional commentary."
As of Wednesday, the SIT team has completed excavating five burial sites, with plans to excavate four more on Thursday. SIT Chief Mohanty is in Dharmasthala to supervise the operation. He noted that, thus far, the SIT has not discovered any evidence from the burial sites during excavation.
On July 11, the unnamed complainant in the case, who alleged he was compelled to bury numerous bodies of women who had been raped and murdered in Dharmasthala village, appeared before a court in Karnataka's Mangaluru district and provided his statement.
He requested that the police exhume the bodies in his presence, further claiming that the bodies exhibited clear signs of sexual assault.
The bodies were found unclothed and displayed injuries indicative of violence.