Dharmasthala SIT to set up helpline for victims, family members 

Bengaluru

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case will be soon establishing a helpline for the benefits of victims to register their grievances and complaints.  A source in the SIT confirmed to blrpost.com. 

The SIT believes that many victims who may had faced abuse or family of victims who are either dead or missing are eager to come out as a few are already approaching local police and media, not just in Karnataka but also in other states. 

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On the other hand Sujatha Bhat, mother of Ananya Bhat who went missing from Dharmasthala has also requested the Karnataka government to set up a helpline for the SIT headed by Director General of Police (DGP) Pronab Mohanty. In a letter to the government, Bhat said she was approached by a few, through her advocate, with grievances which are similar to her’s.

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The appeal to the government aims to ensure smoother complaint registration for affected individuals and to prevent legal loopholes from hindering the progress of ongoing and future investigations.Advocate Manjunath, representing Bhat requested the government to not only create a public helpline that connects directly with the SIT but also formally notify the SIT’s office as a recognised police station.

He pointed out that while SITs often function like police stations in practice, the absence of official notification allows accused persons to exploit legal technicalities and obtain stay orders from the courts.

A source in the SIT said, “we will be soon setting up a helpline and once established, the helpline number will be shared officially.” The victims/family members can contact the SIT through this channel and the identity of them will be kept anonymous.