Dharmasthala case: SIT prepares for search in Banglegudde

Mangaluru: The SIT probing the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala is preparing to conduct a search in the Banglegudde forest near Nethravathi bathing ghat.

The skull that the complainant witness had handed over to the police was reportedly collected from Banglegudde forest. SIT officers had recently taken Vittal Gowda — who had pointed out the spot where the skull was found — to the location and conducted mahazar. The area comes under Belthangady forest division. Vittal is the uncle of Sowjanya who was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in 2012. 

After the inspection, a video of Vittal claiming to have seen remains of several bodies went viral on social media. Following this, SIT officials called officers of Belthangady forest division to their office for consultations. 

SIT sources said, "Since skeletal remains were found in the same forest where the skull was handed over by the complainant witness, we need to conduct a search".