Bones Found in Sixth Site: Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case Takes Alarming Turn

Summary

• SIT confirms bone recovery at sixth marked grave site in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala temple town.
• Whistleblower alleges burial of women and girls who were sexually assaulted and murdered.
• Calls intensify for a court-monitored probe into the widening Dharmasthala mass burial case.

Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: A Dark Revelation in Karnataka’s Pilgrimage Hub

In what is now being described as a watershed moment in one of Karnataka’s most disturbing criminal investigations, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has unearthed skeletal remains from a sixth site in the unfolding Dharmasthala mass burial case. The quiet temple town—long celebrated for its spiritual prominence—now finds itself at the center of a chilling mystery that threatens to unravel decades of silence.

The latest recovery includes two bones excavated from a forested area near the sixth marked grave site. According to SIT sources, this finding could corroborate explosive claims made by a whistleblower who alleged the burial of at least eight women and girls in this very location. Authorities have quickly ramped up excavation efforts under the watch of top forensic experts, SIT personnel, and local administrative officers.

Even before the bones are subjected to DNA analysis by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), the discovery has reignited public outcry. The Dharmasthala mass burial case, now spanning eight excavation sites, is drawing scrutiny not just for its gruesome content but also for the systemic lapses that may have allowed such atrocities to remain hidden.

SIT finds 15 bones in Dharmasthala forest pit. Man claims he was forced to bury 100 bodies, mostly women and minors.
The PAN card was traced to Suresh of Nelamangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka.#Dharmasthala #MassGrave #Karnataka #BreakingNews #HumanRights pic.twitter.com/wddFQpzHbj

— Global Updates 🌍 (@GlobalUpdates7) August 1, 2025

Timeline of Discoveries and Claims

• Early July 2025: An unidentified man steps forward in a Mangaluru court, claiming he was coerced into burying raped and murdered victims in Dharmasthala.
• July 11, 2025: The complainant formally records his statement under oath and requests exhumation of bodies in his presence.
• July 29–31, 2025: The SIT begins systematic excavation of 13 marked sites; bones are first recovered from the sixth location.

The whistleblower also reportedly submitted a human skull to the SIT, allegedly recovered earlier from one of the sites. These developments have prompted renewed debate on Karnataka’s policing and judicial oversight.

What Investigators Have Found So Far

• Site 1: A torn red blouse and PAN card of a woman named Lakshmi.
• Site 6: Two bones in initial excavation phase.
• Sites 6–8: Currently under active excavation.
• Other Sites: No recoveries confirmed yet, though digging is ongoing.

SIT chief DGP P. Mohanty and DIG M.N. Anuchet have both visited the sites in question. Following the new evidence, DGP and IGP M.A. Saleem has ordered the deployment of an additional nine police personnel, supplementing the 20 officers already supporting the Dharmasthala mass burial case probe.

Details That Disturb: Whistleblower’s Testimony

• Victims allegedly included girls and destitute women.
• Burials were said to follow acts of sexual violence and murder.
• Bodies were reportedly stripped of clothing and buried hurriedly.
• Some bore visible injuries indicating extreme violence.

This testimony, if proven accurate, suggests a criminal enterprise far more sinister than initially imagined. Human rights groups and former judicial officials have demanded a Supreme Court or High Court-monitored SIT to ensure full transparency and avoid potential interference in the investigation.

Underreported Aspects of the Investigation

• Tehsildar Supervision: All excavations are being overseen not only by police but also by local civil officers to ensure procedural compliance.
• Civic Workers Involved: Given the scale of the digging, trained municipal workers are assisting, despite intermittent rainfall complicating conditions.
• Forensic Coordination: A dedicated forensic team from the state’s FSL is working in parallel to ensure immediate analysis of all finds.

Few media outlets have covered the logistical intricacies of the investigation. Each find is meticulously documented, sealed, and transported under police escort to prevent contamination or loss of evidence—showing that despite previous criticisms, the SIT has responded with procedural diligence in the Dharmasthala mass burial case.

Legal and Social Backlash Mounting

• Civil society groups are preparing Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to demand judicial monitoring.
• Women’s rights organizations have launched a petition campaign across Karnataka.
• Former SC judge Justice Kurian Joseph has called for urgent national-level oversight.

The Dharmasthala mass burial case is triggering widespread debate on institutional complicity and delayed justice. Critics argue that systemic negligence and cultural taboos around temple towns may have played a role in enabling such acts to go unchecked for years.

State Response: Steps Taken So Far

• SIT established with full-time officers across ranks.
• Additional police resources committed under direct IGP orders.
• Ongoing engagement with forensic and legal consultants.

Even so, state authorities remain tight-lipped about confirming whether the newly found bones belong to human victims or animals. The silence has led to growing pressure on the government to maintain transparency and update the public regularly.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, when asked about the Dharmasthala mass burial case, stated that the government will “leave no stone unturned in getting to the truth,” but refused to comment on whether a judicial inquiry would be constituted.

The Road Ahead: What Comes Next?

• DNA analysis results from the FSL are expected within two weeks.
• Excavations of Sites 9 to 13 are scheduled for the second week of August.
• The SIT plans to conduct ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to identify possible additional grave sites.

Should the DNA results confirm human origin, especially of women or minors, the Dharmasthala mass burial case could be elevated to a national-level criminal probe. Such a move could involve central agencies like the CBI, especially if evidence of organized cover-up emerges.

For now, authorities remain focused on completing excavations safely and documenting all findings, while activists prepare to scale up their advocacy campaigns across the state.

A Watershed in India’s Criminal Justice Landscape

The unfolding Dharmasthala mass burial case is not merely a criminal investigation. It is quickly becoming a litmus test for how India deals with institutional silence, rural crimes, and gender-based violence. The sacred image of the Dharmasthala temple town now coexists uneasily with emerging tales of buried secrets and systemic failure.

The fact that the alleged crimes took place in or around a religious site only complicates the sociopolitical narrative. For many, this isn’t just about solving a crime—it’s about confronting collective denial and restoring public faith in the justice system.

With every excavation and each recovered artifact, the call for justice grows louder. Whether that call is answered adequately will determine the legacy of the Dharmasthala mass burial case for generations to come.