Dharmasthala 'mass burials': Padmalatha's sister asks SIT to reopen probe after almost 39 years

Indravati has now requested the SIT to exhume the body of her sister Padmalatha, who passed away in 1987 and assured her readiness to testify if the case is reopened.

Mangaluru: Almost 39 years after the death of a pre-university student in Dharmasthala, her sister has petitioned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to reopen the case and exhume the body in a bid to uncover the truth.

The SIT, appointed by the state government, is probing the mass burial case in Dharmasthala.

Indravati, a resident of Nelyadi, appeared before the SIT on Monday, seeking a  reinvestigation into the case of her sister Padmalatha’s death. In her petition, she said that Padmalatha, daughter of the late Devananda, was a II PUC student at SDM College, Ujire, when she went missing on December 22, 1986.

Although she had left for classes that morning, the last sighting of her was reported from Dharmasthala. Weeks later, on February 17, 1987, her decomposed body was traced near the Neriya stream.

Indravati alleged that Padmalatha had been abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered. Her father, a CPI(M) leader, led numerous protests demanding justice, prompting the government to hand over the probe to the COD.

The case was also discussed in the Legislative Assembly, and then Home Minister Rachaiah had visited the family at Boliyar in Dharmasthala, promising justice. Despite this, the investigation was eventually closed as “undetected,” leaving the family without justice, she said.

Terming it a possible case of organised crime, Indravati explained that the family had deliberately chosen burial over cremation for Padmalatha’s remains, in the hope that future evidence could surface. She has now requested the SIT to exhume the body and assured her readiness to testify  if the case is reopened.