Dharmasthala case: Skulls recovered at Banglegudde belonged to men, says SIT

Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case on Friday documented the findings from the searches and mahazars conducted on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to SIT sources, doctors have given a prima facie opinion that the skulls and bones recovered during the searches on September 17 and 18 at Banglegudde, near the Nethravathi bathing ghat, belonged to men.

Experts are expected to carry out further examination to confirm more details.

The court has scheduled September 23 for the complainant-witness, who is currently in judicial custody, to record his statement, although he has already given one earlier. Meanwhile, SIT sources said that search and seizure operations have been suspended for now and will resume only if required.

On Friday morning, Gram Panchayat vice-president Srinivas Rao and former member Keshav Gowda visited the SIT office in Belthangady. Officials reportedly collected information from them regarding the burial of bodies in the village.

Notice to Thimarody

When Belthangady police went to serve a notice to activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarody on Friday, he was not at home. The police pasted the notice on the wall of his house. The notice directs Thimarody to appear before the police on September 21 in connection with an FIR registered against him under various sections of the Arms Act, following a complaint by the SIT.

During a search conducted at Thimarody’s house on August 26, the police had recovered one firearm and two talwars. Subsequently, a case was registered at Belthangady police station.