• Source:JND
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Dharmasthala Case: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, has uncovered partial human remains at a sixth excavation site. This marks the first major breakthrough in the case, which revolves around allegations of a series of secret burials spanning nearly two decades. The chilling discovery could serve as the first concrete evidence in what’s now being investigated as one of the most disturbing cases in the Dakshina Kannada district.

The village where these incidents allegedly occurred falls under Belthangady taluk. Prior to this, the SIT had excavated five other sites based on information given by the complainant, a former sanitation worker but none yielded any human remains, reported HT.

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Background: Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case

The case emerged after the former sanitation worker filed an FIR on July 4, claiming he was forced to bury multiple bodies while working in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. He alleged that many of those buried were victims of sexual assault and murder. His complaint also mentioned that a close relative of his had been sexually assaulted, which forced him to flee the town in fear.

After the FIR, the SIT officially took over the investigation from the local police on July 25. Since then, the team has been systematically excavating sites the complainant pinpointed. Apart from the exhumations, they are also focusing on verifying the timeline and the accuracy of the allegations.

“There are inconsistencies in his version of events. Before proceeding further, we need to establish a coherent timeline and verify the facts,” an SIT officer had earlier noted.

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Adding another layer to the case, advocate N Manjunath who represents Sujata Bhat, the mother of a missing medical student said the SIT has recovered some personal items, including a PAN card and two ATM cards, suggesting potential links to other missing persons.

According to Manjunath, the complainant has also pointed out another site which allegedly holds the highest number of burials. However, that location has been reserved for a later stage of the investigation. For now, the SIT has marked 13 locations for digging.