Fresh Excavations Unearth Bones in Dharmasthala Murder Case
In a gripping update from Mangaluru, Karnataka, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) digging into the shocking Dharmasthala murder case got back to work on Wednesday. They focused on the Banglegudde area near the famous Dharmasthala temple town, pulling out bones and soil from spots believed to be secret burial sites. This Dharmasthala investigation has everyone talking, as it uncovers dark secrets tied to alleged crimes and hidden graves.
A big team of 50 to 60 people—SIT officers, Scene Of Crime Officers (SOCO), and local workers—oversaw the digs. Despite the rain pouring down, they kept going strong. The group brought along a sack of salt, several PVC pipes, boxes, and other gear to help with the search. Sources say they spotted bones and even bits of denim cloth at these new spots, hinting at more clues in the Dharmasthala mass burial mystery.
The action happened between the 11th and 12th suspected burial sites, making it a key moment in the probe. Just a day earlier, SIT chief Pronab Mohanty met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to share the latest on the Dharmasthala case investigation. This fresh push stems from a statement by Vittal Gowda, a relative of Soujanya—the young woman police believe was kidnapped, gang-raped, and murdered in Dharmasthala years ago. Gowda claimed he saw piles of children’s bones and bodies getting buried there, sparking these urgent excavations.
As the SIT pushes forward with the Dharmasthala probe, activists aren’t staying quiet. On Tuesday, they turned to the Supreme Court, demanding quick judicial oversight to keep things fair. They want the court to step in on its own (suo motu) over reports of mass burials in Dharmasthala, especially after sanitation worker C.N. Chinnayya—nicknamed the ‘mask man’—blew the lid off decades of secret burials linked to crimes and sexual assaults.
Advocate Rohit Pandey filed the plea to the Chief Justice of India, asking for a retired Supreme Court judge to supervise the SIT. He called for immediate digs and forensic checks on all remains at Banglegudde and other spots, all under strict court watch. The petition points out that Chinnayya’s complaint and affidavit back on July 3, 2025, kicked off the SIT probe, leading to the recovery of human remains and victims’ items that back up the serious allegations.
The National Human Rights Commission even visited Dharmasthala in August, confirming threats against Chinnayya and his family. Villagers’ stories match up, and on September 13, a senior Karnataka minister admitted the burial sites looked like a "battlefield." But the petition warns of roadblocks—high-level pressure is stalling more digs, and local police are allegedly harassing lawyers, witnesses, and victims’ families. This has sparked fears of a rule-of-law crisis in Karnataka.
Adding to the tension, activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, who’s been speaking out against temple authorities in the Dharmasthala case, filed a detailed complaint with the National Human Rights Commission. He accuses police of systematic harassment, power abuse, and fake charges to shut down his efforts and crush public movements.
With bones turning up and calls for justice growing louder, the Dharmasthala murder investigation remains a hot topic. Stay tuned as this story unfolds—what secrets will the next dig reveal?
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
