Written by Bhoomika Roy Banerjee
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on Monday sought a high-court monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into a former sanitation worker’s claims that he had secretly buried bodies of sexual assault victims at Dharmasthala in Karnataka.
The SDPI also sought the immediate suspension and investigation of officers at the Belthangady police station in Dakshina Kannada district, a public hearing allowing families of victims to come forward without fear, and compensation and protection for families that come forward with evidence or complaints regarding the deaths and burials.
Addressing a news conference, SDPI state president Abdul Majid said the SIT should consist of officers with a good track record. He said the Belthangady police–within whose limits the secret burials allegedly took place for more than a decade–have displayed a pattern of neglect when it came to giving justice to the victims.
Numerous cases of suspected rapes, murders, and mysterious disappearances have been left unsolved or forgotten over the past several years in the region, according to the SDPI leader.
“Families of victims have in some cases not even been allowed to file complaints…. What kind of policing is this?” Majeed asked. “How many daughters must disappear before the government acts?”
The SDPI also announced a statewide agitation starting next week to generate awareness about the issue.
The former sanitaion worker has alleged that he had, for more than a decade since 1998, buried several bodies of women that had signs of sexual assault, and was threatened against approaching the police.
He fled the temple town in 2014 to a neighbouring state but returned recently to file a police complaint with help from his lawyers. He also recorded a statement with the local magistrate last week.
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Bhoomika Roy Banerjee is an intern with The Indian Express.