Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Aug 14: In connection with the case alleging that dead bodies related to criminal activities were buried in Dharmasthala village, the witness complainant on Thursday showed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials a new site near Kanyadi, where search operations are under way.

The site, located beside the Netravati river, can be accessed through a private areca plantation. It is about 1 km from the Ujire–Dharmasthala road and reached by travelling along a narrow path. Situated on the opposite bank of the Netravati river next to a bathing ghat, the location was visited by SIT personnel along with the witness complainant around 12 noon.

Puttur sub-divisional magistrate Stella Varghese, SIT SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, forensic science experts and earth-digging workers were present at the spot. An earthmover was also brought to the site. Media representatives were denied access to the location.

So far, the witness complainant has identified 17 sites where he claimed bodies were buried. Searches carried out at these sites have led to the recovery of skeletal remains in two locations.

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• Dharmasthala mass burial: Fifth day search yields no remains at two new sites
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• No human remains found on Day 1 of SIT’s excavation at Dharmasthala forest site
• Mass grave exhumation begins in Dharmasthala; medical team joins SIT
• Armed security deployed at Dharmasthala as SIT identifies suspected mass burial sites in forest area
• Dharmasthala mass burials: Witness, complainant record statements as SIT begins probe
• SIT begins probe into Dharmasthala unnatural deaths; office set up in Beltangady
• SIT constituted to probe mass burial allegations, abuse cases in Dharmasthala region
• Witness may abscond after exhumation in Dharmasthala case, says DK SP
• Dharmasthala mass burials: Complainant's lawyers decry police response, demand protection, action
• Man claiming to have buried over 100 bodies near Dharmasthala appears before court
• Shocking allegation of multiple body disposals in Dharmasthala; complainant seeks protection
• Lawyers seek SP’s attention over Dharmasthala murder case; claim man identified burial spots
• Explosive letter goes viral: Alleges murders, cover-ups in Dharmasthala; claims bodies were hidden