Mangaluru: Fresh twists have emerged in the long-running Dharmasthala mass burial case, with Sowjanya’s uncle, Vittal Gowda, alleging that he stumbled upon multiple human remains during a Special Investigation Team (SIT) mahazar at Banglegudde.
Gowda, who had earlier admitted to retrieving a skull later presented as evidence in court, told investigators and the media that the September 6 spot visit revealed a disturbing scene.
“At the first place, I saw bones of at least three people scattered barely 10 feet apart. At the other site, there were remains of five or more individuals — maybe even a child,” he claimed in a video message. He also spoke of spotting black magic objects, including a tiny ‘kalasha’, and said human bones seemed to protrude from the loose soil.
He insisted the officers present were alerted, but did not seize the remains. “I stand by what I said on camera. Even the SIT filmed the sites,” Gowda asserted, adding that he was ready to face further questioning.
SIT officials, however, dismissed the claims, saying no remains were collected during either visit. A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified that the circulated video showed the second spot — the place where Gowda is believed to have hidden the skull for a few days, not the original burial site.
The SIT has since summoned activists Girish Mattannavar, Jayant T, and Gowda for questioning.
Meanwhile, campaigner Mahesh Shetty Thimarody approached the SIT late yesterday with a formal complaint linked to the Unnatural Death Register (UDR) cases in the Dharmasthala region, handing over material he says could shed light on suspicious deaths.
