Shocking Mass Burial Probe Intensifies in Dharmasthala

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) launched excavation at the seventh suspected mass burial site in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala on Friday, following the discovery of skeletal remains at the sixth site on July 31. The probe, sparked by a former sanitation worker’s allegations, is investigating claims of mass murders, rapes, and illegal burials spanning 1995 to 2014. The whistleblower, whose identity remains confidential, alleged he was forced to bury numerous bodies, including those of women and minors showing signs of sexual assault, and has submitted a skull to the SIT.

The SIT has identified 15 sites, with eight along the Nethravathi River and others near highways. Excavations at the first five sites yielded no remains, but the sixth site’s findings—two bones, likely male—have shifted focus to forensic analysis. Forensic experts in Mangaluru emphasized that a complete skeleton is needed to determine cause of death or malicious intent, as partial remains may be inconclusive.

Dharmasthala Grama Panchayat officials stated that since 1995, over 200 unclaimed bodies were buried on riverbanks, forest fringes, and government land due to the lack of a formal burial ground, all under legal protocols. The SIT has intensified security and deployed heavy machinery and additional laborers to ensure evidence preservation. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara have promised an impartial probe, dismissing speculation about political motives. The investigation continues, with further excavations planned based on forensic outcomes.

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