SIT Finds Few Bones at Dharmasthala
Sources said a few bones (about 10-15) of a human being were found at a place marked out by the whistleblower. A preliminary assessment by the forensic team indicates the remains could belong to a male
Mangaluru: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the sensational allegations of murders and secret burials in Dharmasthala has reportedly recovered skeletal remains during digging at Point No. 6 on Thursday, the third day of its exhumation drive.
According to sources, about 10-15 bones of a human being were found at a place marked out by the whistleblower. A preliminary assessment by the forensic team indicates the remains could belong to a male.
The digging is being carried out after a former sanitation worker of Dharmasthala complained to the police on June 3 that he was forced to bury victims of murder and sexual assault.
On Thursday, the digging began at Point 6 at around 11.30 am. As the work progressed, the bones were found. It is said that some pieces of cloth were also found in the place. The team then intensified the search. A mini earthmover was also used for the task.
The work continued till late evening. Officials brought the bones in a sealed box and took them in the vehicle.
The SIT, constituted by the state government, had identified 13 locations based on the whistleblower’s testimony during the spot visit and began exhumation on Tuesday. While the first two days yielded no human remains, Thursday’s discovery marks the first such find.
Officials, however, have yet to officially confirm the recovery of bones.
The SIT will now have to ascertain the identity of the remains and verify whether they match any of the unclaimed or deceased persons already recorded by the police and buried under the panchayat supervision in Dharmasthala, or if they belong to an as-yet unidentified individual.
On Tuesday, during work at Point 1, the team had also found a PAN card and an ATM card. Investigators later traced the PAN card to a resident of Nelamangala taluk in Bengaluru North district.
According to sources, the man had died of jaundice in March 2025 and was cremated in Nelamangala. It is suspected that he may have lost the card during a visit to Dharmasthala months or days before his death. The team also found that the ATM card found was that of the mother of the dead person.
On July 11, the whistleblower produced a skeletal fragment in court, claiming he had exhumed it himself. The SIT has already inspected that spot and may conduct exhumation there if necessary.