SIT to continue search at 13th site in Dharmasthala village

Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is preparing to continue its search at the 13th site pointed out by the complainant witness, located in an open area near the Netravati bathing ghat in Dharmasthala village, using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).

On Monday, weeds at the site shown by the complainant witness were cleared. A drone survey was conducted, and the GPS coordinates of the location were recorded. The GPR is likely to be used on Tuesday at the site.

“We have hired the GPR device to the site. Technicans deliberated on its use to the officials. Using it, we will check if there are any signs of bodies being buried there. We will dig only if the presence of human remains is confirmed,” SIT sources said.

At the 13th location identified by the complainant witness, there are three electricity poles, and a small vented dam is located nearby. Hence, the SIT is taking sufficient precautions before starting excavation work, said sources.

“For now, we will use the GPR device only at the 13th spot identified by the complainant witness. We have not yet decided whether to use it at other sites he points out. There is no question of using the GPR again at locations where the exhuming process has already been completed,” SIT sources added.

Labourers also cleared the weeds grown on the 13th site.

Family seeks reopening of case

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 pertition, 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.

CPM leader B M Bhat who accompanied Indravati to SIT told DH that the SIT has received the petition and promised to look into it. The team has asked her to visit the SIT when she is summoned in the coming days.