Dharmasthala Horror: SIT to Probe Two Decades of Alleged Murders, Sexual Violence, and Missing Women
In a deeply disturbing development shaking the spiritual town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, the state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a chilling series of allegations spanning over two decades. At the heart of this unfolding horror is a former sanitation worker whose court testimony has unveiled a shocking narrative of mass burials, rape, and systemic silence.
The whistleblower, once employed in Dharmasthala, confessed under oath that between 1998 and 2014, he was coerced into disposing of more than 100 human bodies—most of them women—many allegedly victims of rape and murder. The revelation came with grim visual proof: photographs of skeletal remains and harrowing accounts, including that of a young schoolgirl buried in uniform and a 20-year-old woman whose face had been disfigured with acid.
Haunted by guilt and fear for years, the whistleblower fled Dharmasthala in 2014 after an assault on his own family by individuals reportedly tied to the accused. His recent return, driven by a need for justice, has reignited public fury. He submitted his testimony, photographic evidence, and his old employee ID to the authorities. In a step to ensure his safety, he also provided a sealed envelope containing names of the alleged perpetrators to Supreme Court Advocate KV Dhananjay, to be opened in the event of harm coming to him.
The Karnataka government has acted swiftly. The SIT, to be led by Director General of Police (Internal Security Division) Pranav Mohanty, includes senior officers M.N. Anucheth, Soumya Latha, and Jitendra Kumar Dayama. This task force has been given the authority to investigate all existing and future cases potentially linked to the horrific claims, not just within Dharmasthala but across the state.
As public attention intensifies, the Dharmasthala temple administration—long considered powerful in the region—broke its silence, stating its support for a “fair and transparent” investigation. Meanwhile, the local Gram Panchayat denied any irregularities, claiming that all unclaimed burials since the 1980s have been properly documented and audited.
However, the Karnataka State Women’s Commission, led by Chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary, is taking the matter seriously. In light of recent reports—including the discovery of a human skull and a grieving family’s account of a missing medical student—the Commission has noted a “disturbing pattern” of gender-based violence, mysterious deaths, and disappearances that seem to trace back more than 20 years.
A case under Section 211(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at the Dharmasthala Police Station. The SIT, operating under the direction of the DGP, is expected to provide regular updates, with a comprehensive report to be submitted to the state government soon.
As this case unfolds, it has become more than a regional controversy—it is a national wake-up call. Behind the serene façade of a temple town, the skeletons of women long silenced may now finally speak through justice.
