Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, Aug 3: The fifth day of the ongoing investigation into alleged mass burials around Dharmasthala concluded on Saturday with no human remains found at the ninth and tenth locations identified by the primary complainant, despite extensive digging operations.
From 12 noon to 2:30 pm on Saturday, officers from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), accompanied by the complainant, arrived at the Netravati forest area, a suspected burial site. Initial excavation by civic workers reached a depth of four feet, followed by machine-assisted digging using a mini JCB.
However, despite the complainant’s assertion that multiple bodies had been buried there, no skeletal remains were discovered.
After a brief lunch break, the SIT proceeded to the tenth marked site at around 3:30 pm. But by 4:30 pm, heavy rain began to lash the area, severely affecting the progress of the search. The operation was called off at 5:30 pm due to worsening weather conditions.
So far, none of the ten sites pointed out by the complainant have produced any human remains. Nevertheless, the SIT is continuing to treat the matter seriously, given the gravity of the allegations and the widespread public interest.
Sources confirmed that arrangements are being made to bring the complainant back to the SIT office for further questioning, as his testimonies are central to identifying potential grave locations.