Bengaluru, Aug 18 (NationPress) In a significant update concerning the mass grave investigation, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced that the inquiry will be paused until the chemical and DNA analysis reports are received. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made this determination.

While addressing the Legislative Assembly, Parameshwara responded to inquiries from BJP members regarding the duration of the SIT's investigation. He stated: "To date, only exhumation procedures have been performed. The samples collected have been dispatched for DNA and soil analysis. The actual investigation will progress once these reports are available.

"Excavations have occurred at several locations. In one area, a skeleton has been uncovered, while in another, several bones have been discovered. These have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). In different locations, the soil is characterized as lateritic and acidic. Any remains present, including bones, will likely deteriorate in such soil. Samples from all sites have been collected and forwarded to the lab.

"The skeleton and bones retrieved will undergo thorough analysis. Every sample acquired from various locations needs examination. Only after these analyses are completed can the investigation progress," he elaborated.

The skull provided by the complainant at the case's initiation has also been sent to the FSL, he added.

In response to the BJP's queries regarding the absence of police custody for the unidentified complainant, referred to as the "masked man," Parameshwara noted: "The complainant is under the protection of the Witness Protection Act. A committee led by the Principal District Judge, along with the Superintendent of Police and the Public Prosecutor, has ensured his and his family's safety. As a result, immediate arrest or custody is not feasible."

He emphasized that the investigation is being conducted with seriousness, transparency, and without external pressure. "A just inquiry is ongoing," he asserted.

"We will not excavate the entirety of Dharmasthala. Digging will be restricted to the already identified locations. The decision to continue or cease excavation rests with the SIT, which has been granted full authority in this matter," Parameshwara stated.

"The completion of chemical and DNA analyses is crucial. If the reports reveal no human traces, the investigation will shift direction. Conversely, if human remains are detected and the reports indicate that the bones have disintegrated in the soil, the investigation will proceed based on those findings," he elaborated.

"Until we have these reports, the SIT has opted to pause the investigation," he reiterated.

Challenging the BJP's position, Parameshwara questioned: "Why is the BJP raising objections now? They had no issues at the outset but are now presenting different arguments. Do you want the investigation to proceed? Do you want the truth to come forth? If the probe finds no wrongdoing, the reputation of Dharmasthala will only be enhanced, and the faith of millions of devotees will strengthen. However, we cannot simply proclaim that nothing has occurred."

"If any crime has transpired, the victims' families deserve justice. We should avoid intertwining politics or infusing religious sentiments into this matter," he stressed.

"Let the law take its course. Once the truth emerges, both Dharmasthala and the community, including the opposition, will have to accept it. No definitive statements can be made while the investigation is ongoing," he remarked.

He continued: "We have not received the interim report yet. We cannot set a timeline for the investigation. No individual is being shielded or targeted, nor is there a need for such actions. Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, who manages the temple, has been honored with the Padma Bhushan. Allegations against such an individual must be resolved truthfully."

Veerendra Heggade is also a BJP Rajya Sabha member.