Dharmasthala case: Another body buried? New eyewitness claims burial near Boliyar forest area

A woman approached the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burials case, stating that she had seen a sanitation worker burying a body.

The new eyewitness explained that she saw the body being buried near the Boliyar forest area, which had already been inspected by the SIT on Friday, as per a Manorama Online report.

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She also alleged that after burying the body, the sanitation worker came to her house, drank water, and washed the bucket used for digging. 

The woman's statement comes after six others recently told the investigation team that they had seen a sanitation worker burying a body at Point 13.

The most recent excavation—carried out at the foothills of Bahubali Betta on Saturday—yielded no results, police officers said. 

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The operation began near the main entrance to Dharmasthala, with SIT officers joined by Puttur Sub-Divisional Officer Stella Varghese, Belthangady Tahsildar Prithvi Sanikem, a medical team, forest officials, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, ISD personnel, and other authorities.

The team dug a 20-feet by 20-feet trench to a depth of about 10 feet under a dry tree, but no bodies or remains were found.

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So far, the investigation has involved excavations at 16 different locations. While skeletal remains have been found at Point 6 and 10, the search at Point 13 was suspended due to technical issues. Due to Point 13's proximity to the Netravati bathing ghat, digging near the river would affect its flow, which could do serious damage. So, a ground penetrating radar will be brought in to inspect the site.

Meanwhile, the SIT continues its search for human remains in the Dharmasthala mass burials case, with renewed efforts based on new tip-offs. Excavation attempts will begin again on Monday.

India