Police in India's Karnataka state have arrested a man who recently made alarming allegations that he was compelled to bury the bodies of numerous women, whom he claimed had been raped and murdered. His shocking claims have created turmoil in the small religious community of Dharmasthala, known for its historic temple dedicated to Manjunatha Swamy, a revered figure in Hinduism.
The individual's arrest comes after the local government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to explore these allegations further. An official from the SIT, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the man was detained for perjury, following his initial police complaint and testimony to a magistrate earlier in July. The arrested man has kept a low profile, disguising himself in black clothing, including a hood and face mask during public appearances.
In his police complaint, which the BBC reviewed, the man claimed to have worked as a temple cleaner from 1995 to 2014, during which he asserted that he was forced to bury the bodies of countless victims, including minors. He described several horrific incidents but did not specify any individuals, instead implicating "temple administration and its staff," a claim that temple authorities have labeled as "false and baseless."
When brought before the magistrate, the man produced a human skull, asserting it belonged to one of the bodies he had buried. However, SIT officials dismissed this as fraudulent, stating that the evidence was not sourced from the claimed burial grounds, casting further doubt on the credibility of his allegations.
The nature of these claims has not only incited outrage and chaos in Dharmasthala but has also ignited a political firestorm. The allegations prompted extensive media scrutiny, with a criminal investigation initiated under pressure from local women’s advocacy groups. The SIT has since excavated various sites around Dharmasthala based on the man's information, with some promising results; human remains, comprising a skull and numerous bone fragments, have been discovered at two locations, although their identities remain unknown.
The allegations have placed a spotlight on the influential Heggade family, longstanding custodians of the temple. Chief administrator Veerendra Heggade publicly welcomed the SIT inquiry, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and justice. He refuted the former cleaner's assertions as "impossible," insisting that the truth must come to light.
The matter has also stirred significant debate among political leaders, with opposition party members accusing the claims of being a "smear campaign" against a revered religious site. Home Minister G Parameshwara of the governing Congress party has called for thorough investigations, maintaining that the truth must prevail, regardless of the potential repercussions for Dharmasthala.
This unfolding situation continues to develop, with community reactions ranging from disbelief to concern as the SIT investigates the veracity of these shocking allegations.
