Dharmasthala Crimes: SIT finds no trace of bodies in 2, 3, 4 and 5th spots

Bengaluru 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case has found no trace of any skeletal remains or bodies in the second, third, fourth and fifth spots identified by the complainant. The SIT has so far marked 13 places out 15 which he has identified. 

On Wednesday, more than dozen workers were again pressed into action and dug second, third, four and fifth spots the entire day. A highly placed source in the SIT informed Blrpost.com that not even a single bone was found in any of these. The SIT on Thursday will resume digging on other spots. The sources close to the complainant say that he buried 3 bodies each in fourth and fifth. The sources also say that in the 14th and 15th spot more than hundreds bodies are buried. 

The team however had found an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, a PAN card, a bag, and other materials at the first spot dug up on Tuesday. These items have been sealed and preserved for further investigation. One of the recovered cards bears the name ‘Lakshmi’. These findings were made within two hours of commencing the dig. The SIT did not find any human skeletal remains in this spot.The team found this after digging 2.5 feet. The digging was carried out at Dharmasthala Sthnana Ghatta (bathing point) of the shrine. 

According to an RTI document accessed by Blrpost.com, a person named Lakshmi allegedly died by suicide in 2009 at the Gangotri Guest House in Dharmasthala. However, it is important to note that the recovered card could belong to any person named Lakshmi and may not be connected to that particular case. The RTI document lists suicide cases that occurred in and around Dharmasthala between 2001 and 2012, with records maintained at the Belthangady Police Station.

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

A SIT source said these could be coincidental findings and may not be directly related to the case. However, the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) will seize all items deemed important. The source also stated that the discovery indicates the area may not be abandoned and might have been used by several people. The SIT will continue the digging process on Wednesday. So far, the team has not faced any political pressure, despite the gravity of the case.

It is worth noting that the Karnataka government constituted the SIT on July 19, appointing DGP Pronab Mohanty as its head. After assembling a 20-member team, the investigation began in earnest.

The complainant had filed a report 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.