Dharmasthala case: SIT waiting for chemical test of soil and DNA analysis of bones to take the probe forward, says Home Minister

Making it clear that the government would neither protect nor target anyone in the investigation into the alleged mass burials at Dharmasthala, Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was waiting for the chemical analysis of soil and DNA analysis of bones, skull and skeletons to go ahead with the probe.

Responding to the allegations that there was a conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala temple through such allegations, he said the ongoing probe would look into conspiracies, if any, and also reiterated that action would be initiated against the complainant if his allegations were found to be false.

Laterite soil

“The places where the bodies are alleged to have been buried, but nothing has been found upon digging, are said to be containing laterite soil having acidic content that can corrode even bones. Hence we have sent those soil samples to FSL for chemical analysis to know if there are any human traces,” the Home Minister said, while replying to a debate in the Legislative Assembly on the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala.

He also pointed out that a skeleton was found at one place while a few bones were found in another place. In addition to this, the complainant himself had produced a human skull. All these three items had been sent to the FSL for DNA analysis along with soil samples, he noted.

He explained that the actual probe could start only after getting these analysis reports. “For now, the SIT is waiting for the reports to further the probe,” he said. The SIT itself would take a call on whether to continue the digging based on these reports, he said.

Not under pressure

He denied allegations that the SIT had been constituted under pressure from certain sections and said that the government had favoured it as the local police did not have the wherewithal to get FSL and DNA analysis.

Describing it as a “highly sensitive” issue, the Home Minister assured the House of ensuring a fair and transparent probe, without yielding to pressure from anyone.

Observing that Dharmasthala temple had crores of devotees who were concerned over the happenings, the Home Minister sought to allay their fears.

“If nothing comes out of the ongoing probe, then the credibility and honour of Dharmasthala will increase. If truth comes out, then there is justice for the victims’ families,” he said.

Denying allegations that vested interests were trying to interfere, he remarked, “As long as I am the Home Minister, I will not allow any extra-constitutional authorities to meddle.”

He appealed to both the ruling and the Opposition members to desist from issuing any statements on Dharamsthala till the ongoing probe by the SIT was completed.

“If you desist from issuing any statements in this regard, it will help the SIT to effectively bring out the truth,” he said, and appealed to media also to not indulge in speculative reporting.

Responding strongly to the Opposition insisting that he should act with conscience, the Home Minister said: “I am discharging my duties with conscience and have constituted the SIT with conscience to bring out the truth.”

Narrating the chronology of events that led to the probe, the Home Minister noted that a person had filed a complaint with the Dharmasthala police on July 3, this year, alleging that he had buried hundreds of bodies of men who were murdered and women who were raped and murdered, after being forced to do so by some people who had threatened him of death if he failed to do so.

An FIR in this regard had been registered the next day and the complainant was produced before the magistrate who had ordered a probe into his allegations, he said.

The Karnataka State Women’s Commission too had petitioned the Chief Minister seeking a probe through a SIT comprising senior police officials to ensure that the inquiry was fair and transparent, he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asked the Opposition members to patiently wait for the probe to conclude and not mix politics with religion.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok alleged that certain “urban Naxals” who were also advisers to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were responsible for ordering a probe through SIT.