Dharmasthala Crimes: SIT finds fifth skeletal remains in 6th spot, four found on Wednesday

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case has reportedly found one more skeletal remains in the sixth spot. This in addition to the four which they found on Wednesday. The SIT has not yet confirmed the same. 

At least five sources from the site of the mass burial, whom blrpost.com spoke to, confirmed that the team has discovered skeletal remains on Wednesday and now on Thursday.  The sources are not sure about the number of human beings, as they are not experts in corroborating the same. The sources also said that as they are no expert in analysing the numbers SIT may have counted more remains.

Also Read | Dharmasthala Crimes: Sources say ‘four skeletal remains found’, SIT says not even one

The source said the witness-complainant in the case had definitely stated that from 6 to 13 more bodies will be found. And the 14th and 15th spots are the biggest halls. The SIT is likely to mark 14th and 15th soon for digging as now more skeletons are tumbling out. 

The official sources in the SIT said, “The information is not right and we have not found a single skeleton. The SIT sources, however, confirmed that they found ATM and PAN cards, a bag, and a red blouse in the first spot. One of the cards bears the name of Lakshmi. An RTI document, which this website has, shows that a person named Lakshmi died by suicide near Gangotri Guest House, run by Dharmasthala Temple Administration, in 2009. The SIT says this may be coincidental.

Also Read | Dharmasthala Crimes: SIT finds red blouse, ATM card, Pan, bag in first spot

The official sources also said, “We have appointed nine more personnel given the scale and magnanimity of the operation.” The SIT commenced the exhumation process on Monday and continued digging on Tuesday. Today is the third day of operations. The SIT, headed by the Director General of Police (DGP), was constituted by the State government on July 19 following public outcry for the investigation into the alleged mass burials.

It may be recalled that the complainant had filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala Police Station on July 3, alleging that he was coerced into burying bodies. An FIR was registered on July 4. Following a legal plea by his counsel, the government set up the SIT.

The complainant, who worked for the Dharmasthala Temple Institution as a sanitation worker from 1995 to 2014 across various departments, has alleged a disturbing pattern of mass burials. According to him, many of the deceased were not simply unclaimed or unidentified individuals, but victims of serious crimes—hidden under the guise of the institution’s sanctity.