Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, July 20: The Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a comprehensive and impartial probe into a series of disturbing allegations stemming from a case registered at the Dharmasthala police station in Dakshina Kannada district. The SIT will also investigate any related cases that may surface across other police stations in the state.
The move follows a formal request from the chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, who cited a recent court statement by a man alleging the presence of hundreds of buried bodies in the Dharmasthala region. This allegation, broadcast by media outlets on July 12, has triggered widespread concern, especially in light of claims made by the family of a missing medical student and the discovery of a human skull in the vicinity.
The allegations point to a 20-year history of crimes including rape, murder, unnatural deaths, disappearances, and abuse involving several women and students. In response, the state government has ordered the formation of the SIT to probe these serious issues thoroughly.
The SIT will be led by senior IPS officer Dr Pranav Mohanty, director general of police, internal security division, Bengaluru. The team includes:
-
M N Anucheth, IPS, additional commissioner of police (recruitment), Bengaluru
-
Saumyalatha, IPS, deputy commissioner of police, CAR headquarters, Bengaluru
-
Jitendra Kumar Dayama, IPS, superintendent of police, internal security division, Bengaluru
The case being primarily investigated is registered as Crime No. 39/2025 under Section 211(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dharmasthala police station. The SIT is tasked with investigating not just this case but all related criminal cases registered or likely to be registered across Karnataka that involve missing women, unnatural deaths, or suspected abuse over the past two decades.
The director general and inspector general of police (DG & IGP) have been empowered to transfer relevant cases to the SIT and assign additional officers and staff as required. The SIT will operate using the resources available at the Dakshina Kannada district police office and must submit periodic reports on the progress of the investigation to the DG & IGP. A final report is to be submitted to the government through the DGP at the earliest.