Dharmasthala Case Update: The mystery around the suspicious deaths at Dharmasthala, a well-known spiritual site in Karnataka, remains unsolved. A former sanitation worker claims that he buried more than a hundred bodies in areas around the village. Based on his statement, officials have carried out excavations at 13 different locations. However, the discovery of human skeletal remains at point 6 is considered a key development in the investigation.

Excavation work in the Dharmasthala case continues for the fifth straight day today. Officials are currently working to identify human remains at point 9 in a forested area near the Netravati River. They consider the remaining five spots to be crucial as well. Meanwhile, reports say the authorities will also question an eyewitness today.

So far, officials have only found some remains at point 6 on Thursday (July 31). This is the first concrete piece of evidence in the case. Initial reports suggest the remains could belong to two women. The forensic team has collected the remains and sent them to the lab for testing. However, SIT officials say confirmation will come only after the test results.

Except for point 6, the areas excavated so far are near the riverbank and have been affected by floods. Officials believe floodwaters may have washed away human remains. Because of this, they are now focusing on the remaining sites in the forest. Additionally, some news and YouTube channels from Karnataka report that the sanitation worker claims to have buried bodies in large numbers in these areas. This raises the possibility that these five sites could be critical to the case.

Since last Monday, SIT officials have taken the former sanitation worker along with them for investigation, while keeping the process away from public view. Dr. Pranab Mohanty, head of the SIT, says that progress is slow due to the forest terrain and heavy rainfall.

The team uses 20 workers and bulldozers to dig at the sites. The excavation takes place under the supervision of IPS officers Anuchet, Jitendra Kumar Dayama, SP Simon, Puttur Tahsildar Stella Varghese, Belthangady Tahsildar Prithvi Sanikam, Mangalore KMC doctors, and forensic lab experts. Locals are gathering at the site near the Netravati River to witness the excavation. However, police are not allowing public entry to prevent disruptions.

❂ The Shocking Allegations: Dharmasthala Case Update

Dharmasthala is a well-known Shaiva temple in Dakshina Kannada district. Devotees from Karnataka and neighboring states visit the temple in large numbers. The 62-year-old former sanitation worker, who once worked there, recently made shocking claims. He told the police that many women and girls were murdered between 1998 and 2014, and that he buried their bodies. He also sent a letter to Dakshina Kannada district SP Arun detailing his claims.

Also Read: Highest Package in the University of Hyderabad: Who Got 46 LPA?

❂ The letter reads:
“In the past, many crimes were committed against women and girls here. I buried many of the bodies myself. Between 1998 and 2014, I buried over a hundred bodies. We left the area after some people misbehaved with a young girl in our family. I now live with the fear of sin. If given protection, I will reveal everything that happened during that time.”

He told police that his family went into hiding after a girl from their home was sexually assaulted in December 2014. Still, questions remain unanswered: Who ordered the burials? Who helped transport the bodies? SIT officials say they are still investigating. For now, he is under protection through the Witness Protection Scheme.

Meanwhile, the state is in shock over the letter’s contents, which mention the rape and murder of multiple women near the famous shrine. The letter also claims that many of them disappeared under suspicious circumstances and may have been sexually assaulted.

❂ Hundreds Missing Over the Years?

Dharmasthala is a small village in Dakshina Kannada district. The Manjunatha Swamy Temple has grown significantly over the years. Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Veerendra Heggade has served as Dharmadhikari of the temple for five decades. Several medical and educational institutions have been established in and around Dharmasthala, increasing the number of visitors to the area. The recent claims about mass burials in such a prominent location have come as a major shock.

In the past 10 years, 450 people have reportedly gone missing under mysterious circumstances from areas under Dharmasthala, Belthangady, and Ujire police limits. Activists allege that most of these cases were never fully investigated. Left-leaning groups claim that poor families were silenced with money.

In 2014, a 20-year-old college student was murdered. At the time, her family and several organizations alleged that members of a local influential family had raped and murdered her. Her mother, Sujatha Bhat, recently filed a petition in court stating that if certain suspects are questioned, the truth may come out.

Also Read: Bank of Baroda Job Vacancy: Check Role and Salary Package

❂ Court Relief for the Media:
As media coverage of the Dharmasthala case grows, including on print, digital, and electronic platforms, some senior citizens filed a petition in the City Civil Court in Bengaluru. They claimed that the reputation of Dharmasthala was being damaged. The court responded by issuing a gag order, directing media outlets to remove thousands of articles related to the alleged mass burials and to avoid spreading misinformation. However, when a YouTube channel challenged the order in the Karnataka High Court, the gag order was quashed on Friday.

Share

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•