In a major development in the ongoing probe into alleged mass burials in Karnataka’s temple town of Dharmasthala, partial skeletal remains have been recovered from site number 6. This is the first instance of human remains being found since the investigation began, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Police sources, quoted by India Today, said the remains, believed to be that of a male, were discovered during the exhumation process led by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The remains have been collected and secured by a forensic team at the site for further scientific analysis.
The investigation stems from explosive allegations made by a former sanitation worker, who claimed he was coerced into burying and cremating bodies—many of women and minors—between 1998 and 2014. He alleged that several of the victims bore signs of sexual assault.
15 Suspected Burial Sites Under Probe; Forensic Analysis Underway
Earlier this week, authorities began excavations at five locations previously identified by the whistleblower. These sites had yielded no signs of human remains. Site number one, located on the banks of the Nethravathi River, was the first to be examined in the presence of the complainant. Despite digging deeper with a JCB machine to bypass water seepage, the operation was unsuccessful in recovering any remains.
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The whistleblower had pointed investigators toward 15 suspected burial and cremation locations. Eight of these lie along the banks of the Nethravathi River, four others are situated near the adjacent highway, one is on the road connecting Nethravathi to Aajukuri, and the remaining two are located in the Kanyadi region near the highway.
With the discovery at site number 6, authorities believe the investigation may be at a turning point. A comprehensive forensic evaluation is expected to determine the age and origin of the remains and help verify the claims of the whistleblower.
