Saturday, March 29, 2025
Human Skeletons Found in Karnataka Religious Site; Supreme Court to Hear Plea on Media Ban Lift
In a shocking development, human skeletal remains have been unearthed at a religious site in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala, as investigators dig deeper into what is being called the Dharmasthala Mass Grave Case. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition on Friday challenging the Karnataka High Court’s recent order that lifted a media ban on reporting the case.
The High Court, on August 1, overturned a Bengaluru Civil Court directive that had barred media from covering the case. Petitioners argued that nearly 8,000 YouTube channels were spreading “derogatory content” against the Dharmasthala temple. The plea before the Supreme Court seeks immediate removal of such material and protection for the temple management family.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which took over the probe on July 19, has started large-scale excavations. At plot number 11A, work concluded on August 6, leading to the recovery of skeletal remains on Monday and several sacks of salt on Wednesday. Investigators believe the salt may have been used to accelerate decomposition of bodies. Excavation will now move to Site-13.
The investigation gained momentum after a former sanitation worker in Mangaluru, in July, confessed before a magistrate that he had buried the bodies of nearly 100 girls, women, and men between 1995 and 2014. He claimed the victims were rape survivors and that he remained silent for years due to death threats. The worker says he decided to come forward as he could no longer live with the guilt.
Following his allegations, the SIT began unearthing suspected mass burial sites, including a forested area near the Netravati bathing ghat. The excavations are being carried out under heavy security in the presence of the whistleblower.
Forensic specialists Dr. Jagdish Rao and Dr. Rashmi from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, are part of the team examining the remains. Officials confirmed that further digs may be conducted based on forensic findings.
Fearing tampering with evidence and threats to witnesses, authorities have enforced strict security across Dharmasthala. The state government has tasked the SIT with investigating decades-old allegations of mass killings, sexual assaults, and illegal burials linked to the area — a probe now unfolding under national scrutiny.
