SIT Formed to Investigate Missing Women, Murders in Dharmasthala Police Station limit
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Bengaluru, July 20, 2025: Amidst rising concern, the Karnataka govt has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into grim allegations of mass graves, rapes, and homicides in Dharmasthala police station limit in Dakshina Kannada dist. This move follows intense pressure from the Karnataka State Women Commission and civil society, triggered by a whistleblower's harrowing disclosures.
A ex-sanitation worker who employed from 1995 to 2014, filed a complaint on July 3, 2025, asserting that he was forced to dispose of numerous bodies, with many being female and underage, exhibiting signs of sexual assault and severe violence. The whistleblower, now under police guard, presented skeletal evidence in court on July 11, prompting widespread indignation across the nation.
The Karnataka State Women Commission, chaired by Nagalakshmi Choudhary, took self-initiated action upon media reports from July 12, 2025, revealing the unearthing of a human skull and testimonies from Ananya Bhat's family, a medical student missing since 2003. Choudhary wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 14, advocating for an SIT to examine missing female cases, unexplained deaths, and sexual assaults in Dharmasthala over the last twenty years.
Furthermore, the whistleblower's safety is in question. Having penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India on July 18, the individual accused the police of leaking confidential information and being coerced into disclosing burial locations too soon. This situation casts doubt on the investigation's integrity.
Now, as the SIT initiates its work, the entire nation is closely monitoring the proceedings, eager for justice in a case that has uncovered a disturbing aspect of a revered Karnataka town.
The Karnataka State Women Commission, chaired by Nagalakshmi Choudhary, took self-initiated action upon media reports from July 12, 2025, revealing the unearthing of a human skull and testimonies from Ananya Bhat's family, a medical student missing since 2003. Choudhary wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 14, advocating for an SIT to examine missing female cases, unexplained deaths, and sexual assaults in Dharmasthala over the last twenty years.
SIT Formed to Uncover the Truth
The Karnataka govet, via order No. HD 142 COD 2025 from July 19, 2025, set up an SIT under Dr. Punav Mohanty, IPS, DGP (ISD), Bengaluru. Team members are M.N. Anucheth, IPS, DIG (Recruitment), Soumyalatha, IPS, DCP (CAR HQ), and Jitendra Kumar Dayama, IPS, SP (ISD). Operating from Dakshina Kannada's police office, they'll investigate statewide related crimes, reporting progress to the DGP and IGP.This follows allegations of extensive law enforcement failures, including claims of police inaction on missing persons and death reports. The unresolved 2012 rape and murder case at 17 has intensified calls for a comprehensive investigation.Families Demand Justice, Allege Cover-Up
The case provides fresh optimism for families such as Ananya Bhat's, where her mother Sujatha recently filed a new complaint on July 15, 2025, requesting the recovery of Ananya's remains. Sujatha reportedly faced hindrances and assault while initially reporting her daughter's disappearance in 2003. Advocates and lawyers, with retired Supreme Court judge V. Gopala Gowda among them, have urged a monitored SIT investigation to guarantee fairness.Furthermore, the whistleblower's safety is in question. Having penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India on July 18, the individual accused the police of leaking confidential information and being coerced into disclosing burial locations too soon. This situation casts doubt on the investigation's integrity.
Now, as the SIT initiates its work, the entire nation is closely monitoring the proceedings, eager for justice in a case that has uncovered a disturbing aspect of a revered Karnataka town.
Keywords: Dharmasthala Police Station, Dharmasthala case, mass burial, SIT probe, Karnataka Women’s Commission, missing women, human skull, rape allegations, murder cover-up, Dharmasthala temple, whistleblower