Dharmasthala Mass Burial Allegations: Whistleblower Claims Hundreds of Bodies, State Women’s Panel Demands SIT Amid Police Probe Delays

A former sanitation worker in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, has filed a complaint alleging that he was coerced into secretly disposing of multiple dead bodies over several years, claiming to have buried hundreds of bodies at various sites including near a religious establishment and Bahubali hill. This revelation has prompted a police investigation, with an FIR registered, but six days after the complaint, there has been no significant progress. The Karnataka Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, has stated that if the whistleblower's statement is true, the law will take its course. The local tehsildar admitted receiving an oral report from the whistleblower but did not act immediately. The police have been criticized for failing to cordon off the burial sites and for delays in investigation and whistleblower protection. The state women's commission has cited the report and demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue thoroughly, also seeking 20 years of data on missing women and students. Families of alleged victims have come forward, claiming police inaction when reporting missing persons. The investigation has drawn attention at the central government level, urging the Karnataka government to act swiftly. Legal experts and activists have called for judicial measures, exhumation of bodies, and suo motu action by courts and police. Meanwhile, the whistleblower's lawyers have expressed concerns over indifference and delays, fearing for his safety. The controversy has sparked widespread media coverage and public concern over possible mass murders and cover-ups in a revered religious town.