Dharmasthala mass burials: No human remains traced in two sites; man complains to SIT on 15-yr-old murder

Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) found no human remains during exhuming work at the ninth and 10th spots identified by the complainant witness in the forest area under the Dharmasthala police station limits on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a fresh development, a man from Ichlampady village in Dakshina Kannada appeared before SIT officers and submitted a complaint related to a murder that allegedly occurred around 15 years ago in Dharmasthala village.

Speaking to reporters, Jayant T said, “Around 15 years ago, a girl aged between 13 and 15 died under suspicious circumstances in Dharmasthala village. I saw the body, which was in a partially decomposed state. No postmortem was conducted."

"A week after I filed a complaint, the body was buried. It was not disposed of through legal means, and no FIR was registered. The murder was covered up,” he alleged.

“I do not know who committed the murder, but I will show the location where the body was buried to the SIT. I trust the SIT will carry out a thorough investigation,” Jayant added.

He further claimed that many murders have taken place in Dharmasthala village, and that several locals are aware of them. “But due to an atmosphere of fear, no one dared to file complaints. The SIT formed by the state government has helped lift that fear. I now have confidence in the SIT team, which is why I have submitted my complaint. As Sunday is a holiday, the SIT officials have asked me to visit them again on Monday,” he said.

Jayant also urged the SIT to thoroughly investigate the case of Padmalatha, a girl from his family, claiming that there is a witness in that case as well. “Justice was denied to Padmalatha back then. I am confident that, with the SIT in place, she will finally get justice,” he said.

According to SIT sources, no human remains were found at the two locations searched on Saturday. The digging was carried out using mini earth mover at the ninth and 10th sites marked by the complainant witness.

Both sites are located approximately 10 meters from the state highway connecting Ujire and Dharmasthala, near the bathing ghat in Dharmasthala. To maintain the confidentiality of the operation, a green shade net was erected alongside the road.

Digging progressed slowly due to heavy rains and large tree roots in the area. The search was conducted in the presence of Puttur Assistant Commissioner Stella Varghese, SIT SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, the complainant witness, and his legal representatives.

So far, the SIT has conducted exhumations at 10 locations identified by the complainant along the Nethravathi river in the forest area. On Thursday (July 31), skeletal remains of a male were discovered at the sixth site. No remains have been found at the other nine locations.

Advocate's allegation

An advocate representing a complainant witness has alleged that a police officer from the SIT attempted to coerce her client into withdrawing his complaint.

In an email addressed to the SIT office, advocate Ananya Gowda claimed that the complainant witness was threatened by the officer at the SIT’s Belthangady camp office on August 1.

The officer allegedly warned the witness of severe consequences, including prolonged imprisonment, and said that police custody was imminent.

Calling for the immediate removal of the said police officer from the investigation, Gowda said such a step is necessary to ensure the complainant witness can speak freely and without fear during the ongoing probe. SIT sources said the complaint would be examined.