SIT takes up exhumation at first ‘burial site’ in Dharmasthala, finds nothing

MANGALURU: The special investigation team (SIT), formed to probe the alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala’s forests, on Tuesday began exhumation at the first location identified by the unidentified complainant amidst pouring rain. However, despite digging for hours, the team found nothing.

#WATCH | Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka | Workers and Revenue Department officials reach the spot to begin digging where bodies were allegedly discovered in Dharmasthala. pic.twitter.com/e47y294A7z

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025

Earlier in the day, the SIT had requisitioned four doctors from the KMC hospital who arrived at the SIT office. Puttur Assistant Commissioner Stella Verghese and Belthangady tahsildar Prithvi Sanikam were also among the officials who were present during the exhumation.

After a meeting with DIG M N Anuchet, the SIT, along with the unidentified complainant headed to the Nethravathi bathing ghat where 13 burial spots had been marked on Monday. Personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF) had kept watch at the marked spots overnight.

The gram panchayat had also provided 12 people for the exhumation. Digging at the first site was taken up in the presence of the complainant amidst pouring rain. Even after digging about 4.5 feet deep and 8 feet wide, the team found nothing, the complainant insisted on digging deeper.

Finally, an excavator was brought in and a dog squad was also summoned. The workers dug up a pit of 15 feet wide and 8 feet deep with the excavator, but nothing was found. The SIT headed back with the complainant later in the evening.

Curiously, the complainant has so far not pointed out to the police where he dug up a skull from. The skull was reportedly found on a private piece of land near Kanyadi.