Is the Dharmasthala Mass Grave Investigation Making Progress?

Bengaluru, Aug 12 (NationPress) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the alleged murders in Dharmasthala has initiated plans to commence excavation at the 13th burial site in the temple town of Mangaluru on Tuesday. This operation will utilize drone-mounted Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology. This significant move follows claims from an unidentified source alleging that they buried over a dozen bodies of women and girls who were purportedly sexually assaulted and murdered.

SIT members assessed the site before deploying a drone equipped with GPR to scan the area. Sources indicate that the comprehensive operation is set to kick off shortly. Due to a prior disturbance in Dharmasthala, extensive police security has been established at the excavation site.

The 13th burial site, situated near the Kindi Dam and the Netravathi River, has had its vegetation cleared to aid the GPR search. Reports suggest that large amounts of sand have accumulated in the area over the years for various purposes.

In the meantime, officials from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), who arrived in Dharmasthala on Monday, continued their investigation on Tuesday.

The NHRC team has gathered documents from the SIT and the local police station. They visited the Gram Panchayat office in Dharmasthala for additional information and inspected burial sites within the temple town.

Sources have confirmed that the NHRC team will remain in Dharmasthala for four days to conduct investigations in various locations throughout Belthangady taluk of Mangaluru district.

SIT Chief, DGP Pronab Mohanty, is anticipated to oversee today’s excavation activities. The completion of digging at the 13th burial site will conclude Phase One of the investigation.

In a notable development on July 11, an unidentified complainant—who claimed to have been compelled to bury the bodies of women and girls who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala—appeared in a Mangaluru court to record a statement.

This individual requested that the bodies be exhumed in his presence, alleging that the victims exhibited clear signs of sexual assault. He noted that the bodies were found unclothed and bore injuries consistent with violent sexual abuse.

These alarming claims have reverberated throughout Karnataka.

In response, a retired Supreme Court judge and several activists have called for a Supreme Court or High Court-monitored SIT investigation into the alleged Dharmasthala murders, which may involve the deaths of numerous women, girls, and vulnerable men.

Previously, SIT Chief Mohanty indicated that no substantial evidence had been recovered from earlier excavation sites. However, later reports surfaced indicating that a torn red blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi were found at the first burial site.

Additionally, the whistleblower reportedly submitted a skull—allegedly retrieved from one of the burial sites—to the SIT.

On August 7, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed that the SIT investigating the alleged mass grave case has discovered a male skeleton along with other bones during the excavation, which have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).