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Dharmasthala mass burial case: Partial skeletal remains found at sixth site

The Special Investigation Team found partial skeletal remains of a body in the sixth of the 13 sites identified by 50-year-old complainant in Dharmasthala, on July 31. The complainant had alleged illegal burial of bodies in Dharmasthala.

The SIT officials said they have not found a skull at the sixth site, but have discovered about 15 bones. A few of these bones were broken. The forensic doctor at the spot has prima facie opined that the bones were of a male. Final opinion would be given only after a forensic examination, the SIT officials said.

Forensic doctors and the scene-of-crime officers seized the body parts after noting down the details, including the location and the way the parts were found. Stella Verghese, Assistant Commissioner, Puttur sub-division, was present at the spot.

The complainant is a former sanitation worker, who had given a statement to the SIT about burial of over 100 bodies between 1995 and 2014. On July 28, the SIT took the complainant to the bathing ghat in Dharmasthala where he listed 13 alleged burial sites. The process of digging up the sites started on July 29.

A total of five sites were dug up till July 30; however, no human remains were found. The digging at the sixth site, which is in the forest area and close to the Netravathi river, commenced on July 31 morning.

While digging at the first site, the SIT found the debit card of a woman and the PAN card of a man. The investigation team tracked down the family of the man whose PAN card was recovered.

The man, Suresh, hailing from Nelamangala taluk in Bengaluru Rural district, died of jaundice in March 2025 at his native village and last rites were conducted there, too. The SIT visited his house and the father of the deceased confirmed the same. The deceased was an alcoholic, the SIT officials said. They suspects that he may have lost his PAN card when he visited Dharmasthala before his death.

Regarding the Rupay debit card that was in the name of a woman, an SIT officer said: “The bank is yet to provide us with her details and cross-verification of her whereabouts is still underway.”