Excavation in Dharmasthala case stopped until FSL report: Home Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru, Aug 18: Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara on Monday responded in the Assembly to the Opposition’s allegations regarding the Dharmasthala case. He confirmed that during the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) excavation work, one skeleton and a few human bones have been recovered so far.
“The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has not yet been received. Until the report comes, further excavation will remain suspended,” Parameshwara informed the House.
He clarified that, “So far, only excavation has been carried out. The actual investigation is yet to begin. The skull that the complainant had earlier submitted has also been sent to FSL. After we get the forensic report, the next stage of investigation will move forward. Several analyses, including DNA testing, need to be done.”
The Minister further said it is not possible to dig at every spot shown by the complainant. “It is up to the SIT to decide whether further excavation is required or not,” he added.
Responding to BJP MLA Sunil Kumar’s question on why the complainant had not been arrested, Parameshwara said, “There is a Witness Protection Act formed by the Central Government. The complainant had approached the District Magistrate, and as per the committee’s directions, security has been provided to him and his family. Hence, he cannot be arrested.”
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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