Dharmasthala’s Banglegudde resembles a ‘city of the dead’

Mangaluru

Banglegudde, a hillock located near Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district,  resembles what investigators describe as a “city of the dead”, with the area now emerging as one of the most disturbing sites uncovered during the ongoing mass burial investigation in Karnataka. 

The shocking discoveries made at the hillock have prompted officials to believe that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) may be probing the State’s first suspected case of a necropolis — a large burial ground associated with extensive human remains.

During the course of the investigation, the SIT reportedly recovered seven to eight skulls and more than 1,000 bones from the hillock. All the skeletal remains have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for scientific examination and forensic analysis.

Highly placed sources in the Home Department told blrpost.com that investigators suspect the presence of many more human skeletons buried beneath the hillock. Officials believe that further excavation could lead to the recovery of additional skulls, bones and other skeletal remains.

“This place appears like a city of the dead or a necropolis. Preliminary forensic findings on some of the bones have reportedly indicated signs of violence as a possible cause of death. More forensic reports are awaited,” sources said.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, the SIT is now attempting to establish why so many people died in the area and whether the hillock had systematically been used for dumping bodies over several years. Investigators are also examining whether the deaths were linked to criminal activities or organised concealment of bodies.

Sources further stated that the SIT has unearthed several crucial and sensitive details during the investigation, many of which are expected to form part of a detailed status report likely to be submitted before the Belthangady court in the coming days. 

The SIT is also expected to record the statement of activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi before filing the status report before the court.

The investigation gathered momentum following the constitution of the SIT to probe allegations relating to mass burials in and around Dharmasthala. During the initial stages of excavation and exhumation carried out at various locations, investigators had recovered only two skeletal remains.

The case, however, took a dramatic turn after the masked complainant — later identified as C N Chinnayya — allegedly retracted portions of his earlier statements and admitted that some of the burial-related claims narrated by him were false. Chinnayya was subsequently arrested by the SIT. 

During the investigation, the SIT reportedly found that a skull produced before the court by Chinnayya while recording his statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had allegedly been procured through activist Vittal Gowda.

After Gowda is said to have admitted to supplying the skull, the SIT conducted a spot mahazar at Banglegudde. It was during this inspection that investigators unexpectedly stumbled upon several additional skeletal remains scattered across the hillock.

The discovery triggered large-scale search operations at the site, eventually leading to the recovery of nine skulls and nearly 1,000 bones. The skeletal remains were later transported to the FSL for comprehensive forensic analysis.

Investigators are now awaiting detailed scientific reports, which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the age of the remains, the cause of death, the possibility of homicide, and whether multiple crimes may have been committed over a prolonged period.