Dharmasthala Case: Partial Skeleton Found in Mass Burial Probe
In a major development in the ongoing mass burial investigation in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has discovered partial skeletal remains at the sixth excavated site. This is the first time concrete evidence has been unearthed in the probe, which was launched following shocking allegations by a former sanitation worker.
The discovery was made on Thursday during the exhumation process at one of the 15 locations identified by the whistleblower. Police sources have indicated that the remains are likely those of a male. The forensic team on site has secured the evidence for detailed analysis to determine age, origin, and the circumstances surrounding the burial.
The investigation stems from claims made by a former sanitation worker who alleged that between 1998 and 2014, he was forced to bury and cremate the bodies of numerous women and minors in the temple town, many of whom showed signs of sexual assault. The whistleblower identified 15 potential burial and cremation sites, prompting the SIT to begin excavations.
Prior to this discovery, excavations at the first five sites had yielded no human remains. The initial sites, including one along the Nethravathi River, were dug up earlier in the week in the presence of the whistleblower, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Eight of the suspected locations are along the riverbank, with others near a highway and in the Kanyadi area. The partial skeleton found at site number 6 is now a crucial piece of evidence that could corroborate the whistleblower’s disturbing claims and steer the direction of this high-profile investigation
