Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: Human Remains Found at Sixth Site in Major Breakthrough

In a major development in the Dharmasthala mass burial investigation, human skeletal remains have been unearthed at a sixth suspected burial site — the first time tangible forensic evidence has been recovered since the probe began.

The remains were discovered during an excavation led by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday, following up on claims made by a former sanitation worker. The whistleblower alleged he was forced to bury the bodies of multiple sexual assault victims nearly a decade ago. His formal complaint, filed at the Dharmasthala police station on July 4, prompted the formation of the SIT on July 19.

The breakthrough came after the SIT dug nearly eight feet deep and 15 feet wide at one of the locations pinpointed by the complainant. While earlier searches at five other sites turned up empty, this sixth location yielded partial skeletal remains, marking a significant step forward in the case.

Advocate N. Manjunath, representing Sujatha Bhat — the mother of missing medical student Ananya Bhat — acknowledged the SIT’s progress in a public statement. He revealed that alongside the skeletal remains, investigators found a PAN card and two ATM cards. One was issued in a male name, and the other bore the name 'Lakshmi', potentially offering new leads.

Manjunath also disclosed that the whistleblower has identified yet another site, believed to contain the highest number of alleged burials. However, this location lies outside the 13 currently prioritized by the SIT and will be excavated in a later phase of the investigation.

The skeletal remains have been sent for forensic examination to determine the identities, causes of death, and any potential links to the region’s list of missing persons. The investigation is centered in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, and continues to unfold with heightened public and media scrutiny.

Authorities say more details will be released as the investigation progresses.