Dharmasthala case takes new turn, SIT begins probe into black magic angle

Bengaluru 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case has now begun investigating the possibility of black magic practices in the village. The discovery of a child’s skull during the second mahajar prompted the SIT to explore this angle.

During two mahajars at Bangle Gudde in Dharmasthala village panchayat, Dakshina Kannada district, the team found skeletal remains of seven individuals. Among them was a small skull, believed to belong to a child. It is widely known that children’s skulls/children are sometimes used in certain black magic rituals. The SIT is taking this aspect very seriously, as such practices are banned and punishable under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017. The presence of the child’s skull prima facie points to the possibility of black magic.

A highly placed source in the Home Ministry told blrpost.com that the village may hold dark secrets unknown even to the residents. Local police also said they had no knowledge of witchcraft in the Dharmasthala panchayat. The SIT faces a challenging task ahead but is confident of solving the puzzle.

Meanwhile, the team has been directed to expedite the investigation following these findings. The SIT will complete groundwork and preparations before conducting further exhumations in the area. Local intelligence will be gathered prior to digging, after which skeletal remains will be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Sources confirmed that on September 7, two skeletal remains had already been sent to FSL to verify the origin of the skull.

So far, the SIT has questioned Girish Mattannavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayanth T., Abhishek, and Manaf in connection with the skull brought from Bangle Gudde by Vittal Gowda. On August 23, the SIT arrested Chinnayya, the accused in mass burial case (39/2025). The SIT was formed on July 19 after Chinnayya lodged a complaint at Dharmasthala police station on July 3, alleging that he had been forced to bury bodies. He later recorded his statement under Section 183 of the BNSS before a magistrate.

Based on his statement, the SIT carried out exhumations and recovered skeletal remains of two individuals. However, Chinnayya later retracted, admitting that his claims were false. After 15 days of questioning, he was remanded to judicial custody on charges of perjury and forgery.