Officials said they will examine all the identified burial times, which would be a time-consuming process.
Published Jul 29, 2025 | 4:13 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2025 | 4:13 PM
Ex-worker alleged murders, rapes, and secret burials tied to Dharmasthala Temple administration.
Synopsis: The first eight burial locations were identified along the Nethravathi River. Locations 9 to 12 were beside the highway near the river. The 13th was on the road connecting Nethravathi to Aajukuri, and the remaining two, 14 and 15, were in the Kanyadi area near the highway.
No body remains have been so far found at the first burial site where the special investigation team — probing an allegation of illegally burying bodies over 20 years in Dharmasthala — examined on Tuesday, 29 July.
Police sources told South First that digging started in the presence of investigators and forensic experts. The labourers dug deeper than the witness-complainant had told the police.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple, had alleged a 20-year cover-up of sexual assaults and murders. He identified 15 possible burial sites.
The first eight locations were identified along the Nethravathi River. Locations 9 to 12 were beside the highway near the river. The 13th was on the road connecting Nethravathi to Aajukuri, and the remaining two, 14 and 15, were in the Kanyadi area near the highway.
Officials said they will examine all the identified burial times, which would be a time-consuming process.
Once the remains are found, a postmortem examination would be conducted to identify the age, gender, cause of death, and how long the remains have been present. The actual probe would begin only after the cause of death is established as homicide.
However, officials claimed that it would be difficult to establish rape because soft tissues would have disintegrated unless they found some other evidence. But all is not lost, the officials stated that even from the remains, they could find out if there were any postmortem and antemortem injuries.
If postmortem injuries were present, it means the body was legally buried. If it is antemortem, then the officials will have to see if it was caused by a sharp object, a blunt object, or anything else.
Police will also be looking into missing cases filed during the timeframe mentioned in the complaint.
Assistant Commissioner (Puttur) Stella Verghese, SP Jithendra Kumar Dayama, scene of crime officers, and others were present at the scene on Tuesday.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
