The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala launched a fresh operation on Friday at a location in Boliyar, following information shared by an anonymous complainant.
The witness, whose identity has been withheld for security reasons, is believed to have worked as a sanitation worker in the temple town between 1995 and 2014. His detailed testimony, recorded before a magistrate, includes shocking claims of forced involvement in illegal burials, including bodies allegedly bearing signs of sexual assault.
Official sources confirmed that the input led to a focused search at the new site, located near the pilgrimage centre in Dakshina Kannada district. The area was examined under high security, with forensic teams and technical experts in attendance.
No official statement has been made regarding the discovery of remains or materials from the newly inspected site. Authorities indicated that subsequent action would depend on forensic assessments and legal protocols.
Also read: SC refuses to gag media in Dharmasthala burial case
The state-constituted SIT has been investigating allegations that stretch back nearly three decades, involving claims of mass murder, rape, and clandestine burials in and around Dharmasthala. The case has provoked intense public discourse and political scrutiny, leading to calls for transparency, accountability, and justice.
Officials have appealed for restraint, urging the media and public to avoid speculation while the inquiry progresses.
The SIT continues to examine all leads related to the witness’ statement, which detailed repeated instances where he was allegedly ordered to dig graves and dispose of bodies, some, he claims, of women and minors who had suffered assault.
The investigation is being monitored closely at the highest levels of the Karnataka government, with growing calls for wider institutional reforms in response to the allegations.
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