Man Arrested After Alleging Rapes and Secret Burials at Dharmasthala Temple
A former Dharmasthala temple cleaner in Karnataka was arrested for perjury after claiming he buried hundreds of women raped and murdered; an SIT probe uncovered human remains at excavation sites.
Police in Karnataka have arrested a former cleaner who alleged he was forced to bury hundreds of women raped and murdered near the Dharmasthala temple.
Allegations and Arrest
The man, who served as a cleaner from 1995 to 2014, filed a complaint in July claiming he buried bodies of girls and young women, some minors. He attended a magistrate hearing in disguise and produced a human skull as proof. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) later arrested him on charges of perjury, saying the remains were not from the alleged burial sites.
Investigation Uncovers Remains
Over the past weeks, SIT officers excavated 13 locations around Dharmasthala, including dense foliage areas. At two spots, investigators found a skull and nearly 100 bone fragments, now undergoing forensic testing.
Political Fallout and Temple Response
The allegations sparked intense media coverage and a political row in the state assembly. Opposition BJP leaders called it a smear campaign, while the ruling Congress stressed the need for truth. Temple chief Veerendra Heggade, Padma Vibhushan awardee and MP, welcomed the SIT probe, assuring full cooperation.
The perjury arrest marks a turning point in a scandal that has shaken the trust of thousands of devotees visiting Dharmasthala.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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