Skeletons of Past Tumble out of Dharmasthala's Valley

 Dharmasthala: For centuries, the temple town of Dharmasthala evoked devotion, charity and justice. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims from different parts of the country visit the town — nestled in the lush green foothills of Western Ghats in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka — seeking the blessings of Lord Manjunatha.

However, whispers began years ago about something unthinkable happening at the sacred town. In recent weeks, the whispers gained strength and the reports of “secret mass disposal of bodies” shook the lakhs of faithful.

A Whistleblower’s Chilling Allegations

Early this month, a man who worked as a sanitation worker at Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, claimed that he was forced to dispose — under duress — hundreds of bodies, allegedly belonging to those who have been murdered or raped and those who died mysteriously.

In a detailed statement submitted through his advocates, he painted a haunting picture of what he claimed to have witnessed and endured. The worker claimed that he had buried men who had been strangled, women whose faces had been disfigured with acid, and even minors who were allegedly sexually assaulted and killed.

One of the most disturbing accounts speaks of a schoolgirl found with her bag, bearing marks of sexual assault and strangulation. In another instance, he said he was ordered to burn bodies with diesel so that no trace would remain.

He said he fled Dharmasthala in 2014 and has been living in hiding ever since, but guilt has now forced him to come forward. He has submitted “physical evidence” to back his claims and has requested protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. “I am prepared to reveal the names and exact roles [of the perpetrators and those issued orders] once I receive protection for myself and my family.”

The whistleblower has given a statement before a magistrate and produced the skeletal remains which he claimed to have exhumed by himself. But it remains unclear whether he has named any individuals. He also deposed before the special investigation team constituted to probe the case on Saturday.

Echoes of the Past

For those who have been following events at Dharmasthala for decades, these allegations do not come as a complete surprise. There have been whispers before and some had attracted the attention.

Veteran activist Somanatha Nayak, who heads the Nagarika Seva Trust, says the region has seen similar cases since the 1970s.

“In 1979, there was a mysterious death of Vedavalli, a teacher. Subsequently, a PU student, Padmalatha, a daughter of a communist leader, was allegedly kidnapped and killed. Her remains were found after several days. Though there was a probe into the case, there was no conviction. In 2012 there was a double-murder, and the police filed a ‘C’ report. A few days later, 17-year-old Sowjanya was murdered,” Nayak recounted.

The Soujanya case — alleged rape and murder — still resonates in the collective memory of Dakshina Kannada. While a CBI probe was conducted, the outcome failed to satisfy either the family or activists, who continue to allege that evidence was destroyed.

RTI Raised Questions

Following the public outcry during the Soujanya case, Nayak’s organisation filed an RTI application seeking details of unnatural deaths at Dharmasthala and neighbouring Ujire between 2001 and 2012.

“There were 452 suicides, and 16 murders reported in just two villages in that period. That is about 45 a year. Of these, 96 were women. After these revelations came out, the numbers gradually came down,” Nayak stated.

But the recent development, he says, reopened old wounds.

Social Media as Amplifier

The key difference between olden times and now is the speed with which such allegations and issues spread. Social media has become an amplifier for people now.

“Earlier, it was difficult for these matters to come out in the media,” says Nayak. “Now, social media is handy for anybody. With a single post or video on social media, people across the state will know about an incident instantly. This makes it harder to suppress voices.”

Police Response

The fresh allegations were formally submitted to the office of the Superintendent of Police on July 3. After securing the court’s permission, Dharmasthala police registered a case under Section 211(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on July 4.

The police, however, have issued a statement, expressing certain concerns.

Citing Rule 7 of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, the police said they need the complainant’s cooperation to ensure protection. “Despite an email sent on July 10, no details about the witness’s location have been shared,” the police noted.

They have also pointed out that a related petition is already pending before the Supreme Court, something that was not disclosed to them by the complainant or his legal team.

Fearing that the witness might abscond, the police have requested court permission to conduct narco-analysis, brain-mapping and fingerprint tests — if the complainant consents. The police have clarified that exhumations, if necessary, will be done strictly as per legal protocol.

Political Pressure and the SIT

As the controversy snowballed, pressure mounted from activists and political parties for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. On Sunday, the Karnataka government announced the formation of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty. The team also includes top-level officers from the state police.

The SIT team has already started the preliminary works in Mangaluru. The Whistleblower’s statement, spot visit and other works are likely to be conducted in the next few weeks after following due process.

People and activists have welcomed the decision. “We welcome the formation of the SIT. Looking at the officers on the team, this does not appear to be an eyewash. We are hopeful of an impartial and serious investigation,” says Somanatha Nayak.

“Even if the SIT succeeds in finding just two or three of the claimed burial sites, it will be a victory for truth in the court of public opinion,” he adds.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also hailed the move, calling it “long overdue.” Dr Prakash K, the secretary of CPI(M) Karnataka State Committee, urged the government to ensure a time-bound and impartial probe.

“Many of these cases are infamous for the alleged destruction of evidence. A thorough investigation is essential,” Dr Prakash said, adding that local organisations that have fought for justice for decades must be included in the process.

Hope for Justice

For families who have waited years for answers, the SIT announcement has brought a glimmer of hope.

The mother of Ananya Bhat, a medical student who went missing in 2003 from the Dharmasthala temple premises, has approached the police once again, asking for a fresh investigation.

“She vanished mysteriously during a visit to Dharmasthala. Despite years of searching, nothing came out of it,” she says. “If one of the buried bodies turns out to be hers, at least I can give her a proper burial.”

The SIT developments have also revived public interest in the 2012 Soujanya case. Her brutal rape and murder had triggered statewide protests. Even though the CBI took over, activists insist the truth was buried with the case files.

Panchayat and Temple Response

Local authorities maintain that there is a clear protocol for dealing with unclaimed bodies.

“If there is an Unnatural Death Report (UDR), it is immediately reported to the police. The body is taken for a post-mortem, and if unclaimed, the Panchayat is contacted for the last rites. A decade ago, when there was no crematorium, such cremations were done on revenue land,” says a panchayat member.

Responding to the controversy surrounding the temple town, K. Parshwanath Jain, spokesperson for the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, said: “A case was recently registered claiming that ‘several dead bodies were buried.’ This has caused widespread speculation. We believe the SIT will conduct a fair and transparent investigation.”

“Truth and belief are the foundation of ethics. It is our sincere hope that the SIT brings the true facts to light,” he added.

Courts Step In

Amidst the furore, a Bengaluru City Civil and Sessions Court has restrained YouTube channels and media outlets from publishing or circulating defamatory content against Harshendra Kumar, the brother of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade. Several YouTube channels have already moved the Supreme Court challenging this order.

Heggade Family

Apart from devotion, Dharmasthala has been synonymous with the Heggade family — the Jain trustees of the famous Manjunatha Swamy Temple. Apart from their spiritual responsibilities, the Heggades are known for social work across four areas — Anna Dana (feeding the poor), Aushadha Dana (healing), Vidya Dana (education) and Abhaya Dana (offering protection). The family commands enormous clout in the region.

Dr Veerendra Heggade, the current Heggade, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha for his service in rural development and education.