Dharmasthala mass burial allegations: SIT begins day three of excavation at Netravati bathing ghat
Belthangady: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has launched the third day of its operations on July 30, around 11 a.m., focusing on the search for skeletal remains allegedly buried in the area. The team arrived at the Netravati bathing ghat along with the primary complainant who had initially filed the case.
Earlier in the day, the complainant arrived at the Belthangady SIT office at 10 a.m. with legal representatives. After completing necessary formalities, the team proceeded to the excavation site.
Among the officials present were IPS officers Anucheth and Jitendra Kumar Dayama, SP Simon, Puttur Assistant Commissioner Stella Varghese, Belthangady Tahsildar Prithvi Sanikan, a medical team from KMC Mangaluru, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, and experts from the Indian Society of Dowsers (ISD).
The SIT is now preparing to excavate a second location identified by the witness.
No use of Hitachi machines
Sources have confirmed that the land being excavated today falls under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. As such, permission has not been granted to use heavy machinery like Hitachi excavators, which are considered to violate forest protection laws. The excavation will therefore be conducted manually using laborers.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
