Three days after the government of Karnataka formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of mass burials at Dharmasthala, the State police chief posted 20 personnel drawn from various units of the Western range to assist the team headed by Pronab Mohanty, along with DIG M.N. Anucheth, DCPs S.K. Soumyalatha and Jitendra Kumar Dayama.

The order also drew the curtains on rumours about M.N. Anucheth and Soumyalatha excusing themselves from the probe citing personal reasons.

The officials are

1. C.A. Simon – SP, DCRE, Mangaluru
2. Lokesh A.C. – DSP, CEN PS, Udupi
3. Manjunath – DSP, CEN PS, Dakshina Kannada
4. Manjunath – PI, CSP
5. Sampath E.C. – PI, CSP
6. Kusumadhar K. – PI, CSP
7. Manjunath Gowda – PI Sirsi Rural, Uttara Kannada
8. Savithru Tej P.D. – CPI, Byndoor, Udupi
9. Kokila Nayak – PSI, CSP
10. Voilet Femina – PSI, CSP
11. Shiv shankar – PSI, CSP
12. Raj Kumar Ukkali – PSI Sirsi N.M. PS, Uttara Kannada
13. Suhas R – PSI (investigation), Ankola PS, Uttara Kannada
14. Vinod S. Kallappanavar SI (investigation), Mundgod PS, Uttara Kannada
15. Gunapal J. – PSI, MESCOM, Mangaluru
16. Subhash Kamath – ASI, Udupi Town PS
17. Harish Babu – CHC, Kaup PS, Udupi
18. Prakash – CHC, Malpe Circle office, Udupi
19. Nagaraj – CHC, Kundapura Town PS, Udupi
20. Devaraj – CHC, FMS, Chikkamagaluru

DG&IGP M.A. Saleem has directed the unit officers concerned to relieve these personnel who are expected to report to Pronab Mohanty.. The IGP (Western range) was instructed to ensure all logistic support for the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The SIT geared up to initiate the probe after completing the documentation, and is expected to convene a meeting of the team soon to discuss the plan of action.