Dharmasthala mass burials case: Another witness complainant comes before SIT
Mangaluru: A third individual, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has reportedly written to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), requesting to be included in the operation to exhume human remains allegedly buried secretly in Dharmasthala village. The complainant claims to have personally witnessed the locations where the first complainant was said to have buried the bodies.
Addressing the letter to SIT chief Pronab Mohanty, the third complainant mentioned that he is writing on behalf of the residents of Dharmasthala and surrounding villages. “As a villager, I have identified the person, the first complainant seen in broadcast media reports. I have seen him secretly transporting and burying bodies at multiple locations in Dharmasthala village, away from public view. Even though such burials were done in secrecy, you must be aware that nothing remains hidden in the villages,” the complainant wrote.
He requested to be independently involved in the operation to exhume the remains from the locations indicated by the first complainant. He further appealed to the SIT to allow him to independently identify the exact sites where he witnessed the secret burials.
The complainant also stated in the letter that the ongoing operations by the SIT, formed by the Chief Minister to ensure an impartial investigation into the alleged crimes in Dharmasthala, have encouraged him to step forward without fear. He expressed his determination to cooperate with the SIT, which he believes has been constituted for the safety and protection of the people.
Responding to the letter, an assistant investigating officer from the SIT confirmed receipt of the application and said it has been reviewed. The officer advised that any information or complaint regarding a crime should be submitted to the local jurisdictional police station.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
