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Major development in Dharmasthala case as human remains are discovered at Spot 6, potentially shedding new light on the investigation.
Human remains, believed to be those of a man, were discovered on Thursday, July 31, at Spot 6 near the Nethravathi River in Dharmasthala, according to officials from the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
This marks the third day of excavation in connection with the alleged mass burial case. Spot 6 is one of the thirteen locations identified by a whistleblower, who claimed to have buried multiple bodies there between 1995 and 2014.
Although the exact skeletal parts recovered remain unspecified, sources confirmed that the remains are those of a male. They were discovered at a depth of three feet. Authorities also stated that the exhumation at Spot 6 has been completed.
This marks the first significant breakthrough since a former sanitation worker made shocking allegations about having buried numerous bodies in Dharmasthala, located in Dakshina Kannada district.
After the discovery of human remains at Spot 6, the SIT team has yet to decide whether to proceed with excavation at Spot 7.
The remains were discovered on the third day of excavation by the SIT, following leads provided by the former sanitation worker on July 29. Progress has been slow, largely due to persistent rainfall in the area, which is reportedly hampering operations.
In the coming days, the SIT is expected to continue excavation at additional locations identified by the worker.
Most of the locations identified by the complainant are situated near the banks of the Nethravathi River. At the first site, which lies directly on the riverbank, the SIT excavated to a depth of about six feet. The second, third, and fourth sites are positioned close to one another, and the excavations carried out there on July 30 reportedly reached depths of only three to four feet.
A former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple has come forward as a whistleblower, alleging that over a span of 20 years, he was repeatedly instructed by his superiors to bury numerous bodies—many of which were women and girls who appeared to have been sexually assaulted.
On July 28, he guided the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the suspected burial sites near the snana ghatta—the bathing area along the Nethravathi River, located close to the temple. Officials from the revenue, forest, and other concerned departments joined the SIT as the whistleblower identified each spot and explained the circumstances surrounding the burials.
Allegations of mass burials in Dharmasthala first emerged in late June, when lawyers representing an anonymous man—whose identity has been withheld for his protection—held a press conference outlining his claims.
The man lodged a complaint through his lawyers at the Dharmasthala police station on July 3, and an FIR was registered the following day. On July 11, the Belthangady court recorded his statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), after which he agreed to guide investigators to the suspected burial sites. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now working to confirm the identities of the recovered remains and to determine if additional bodies are buried at the other identified locations.
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