NGOs to state govt: Don't succumb to political pressure; give SIT free hand

In a roundtable conference held in Mangaluru on Wednesday, various like-minded civil society organisations and rights activists came together to raise a strong demand for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into a series of alleged murders, land encroachments, and financial exploitation cases reported from Dharmasthala and surrounding regions over several decades.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

The meeting, presided over by Vasudeva Uchila, highlighted public concern and expectations around the ongoing SIT investigation into allegations made by a former sanitation worker who claimed that he was forced to bury unidentified bodies under duress. Participants expressed concern that BJP and powerful vested interests were attempting to stall the SIT probe and intimidate the whistleblower and witnesses to derail the process.

Speakers unanimously demanded that the government must not succumb to political pressure and should instead empower the SIT to conduct a full and transparent investigation. They also emphasized that the whistleblower's complaint must be treated independently of any political affiliations and be investigated from all angles with credibility and impartiality.