The investigation into the alleged mass burial in Belthangady, Karnataka, has taken a dramatic turn.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a report naming the original witness-complainant and five others as accused. The report was submitted to the local Belthangady court under Section 215 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with offences related to evidence.
The complainant, a 45-year-old resident whose testimony first brought the alleged burial site to light, is now among six individuals facing charges. The other accused are Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayant T, and Sujatha Gowda. Several of them are reportedly local activists or involved in public interest campaigns that had pushed for the investigation.
Filing the report under Section 215 suggests the SIT believes these individuals may have provided false information, concealed evidence, or otherwise attempted to mislead the probe. This marks a significant shift in the case, redirecting scrutiny from the alleged perpetrators of the mass burial to the motivations and actions of those who raised the allegations.
The controversy began when reports emerged of bodies being unlawfully disposed of at a remote Belthangady site, potentially linked to illegal activities. The subsequent investigation, handed over to the SIT, involved extensive excavation and forensic analysis.
By naming the complainant and his associates, the SIT implies that the mass burial claims could have been exaggerated or fabricated. The accused now face the challenge of proving the credibility of their original claims, while the court will examine the SIT’s report to determine the next steps in the case.
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