The investigation into the alleged mass burial in Belthangady, Karnataka, has taken a surprising turn.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has named the original witness-complainant and five others as accused, filing a report under Section 215 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with offences related to evidence.
The complainant, a 45-year-old local resident whose testimony first brought the alleged burial site to light, is now among six individuals facing charges. The others named are Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayant T, and Sujatha Gowda—several of whom are local activists or had campaigned for the investigation.
The SIT’s report suggests these individuals may have provided false information, concealed evidence, or misled the probe, shifting the focus from the alleged perpetrators to those who initially raised the alarm.
The case began with allegations that multiple bodies were unlawfully disposed of at a remote Belthangady site. The SIT’s probe included extensive excavation and forensic analysis. By implicating the complainant and his allies, the investigation now raises questions about whether the mass burial claims were exaggerated or fabricated.
The accused will have to substantiate their original claims, while the Belthangady court reviews the SIT report to decide the next course of action.
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