Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 19: In connection with the Dharmasthala case, where an anonymous complaint alleged that hundreds of bodies had been buried, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had carried out excavations at 17 points over 16 days. Traces of skeletal remains were found only at two sites. The issue later echoed in the state assembly and created a stir in state politics.

Home minister Dr G Parameshwara informed the Assembly that the search operations have been temporarily halted. The soil collected from different excavation sites in Dharmasthala and the skeletal traces found have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis.

Sources said that once the report is received, the investigation will intensify, and fresh searches may be conducted at two or three more locations.

The FSL report is expected to reach the SIT by this weekend. It is likely to address three key aspects — whether the skeletal remains are of a male or female, the approximate age of the remains, and how many years ago the death occurred. Officials will also examine whether the collected soil contains traces of dissolved human bones, as suspected by the complainant.

The SIT is said to be awaiting the report keenly, as it could provide crucial leads. By the time the report is submitted, the assembly session would have concluded, paving the way for further excavation work from next week. “An interim report on the Dharmasthala case will be submitted soon,” home minister Dr Parameshwara said.

Meanwhile, the anonymous complainant is being intensively interrogated at the SIT office in Beltangady. Another complainant, Jayanth, has also appeared before the SIT.

The BJP, while stating it has no objection to the formation of the SIT, has raised questions over the reasons and motives behind its constitution.

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