Dharmasthala: In a first-of-its-kind move in Karnataka’s criminal investigation history, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala is set to deploy Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)—a high-tech geophysical method traditionally used in archaeology—to scan beneath the temple town for suspected buried human remains.
The GPR system, which can detect anomalies up to 10 metres underground (or more, depending on terrain and equipment), will allow the SIT to sweep broader areas efficiently. This technology emits radar waves from a surface antenna into the earth; when the waves encounter buried objects or obstacles, they bounce back, helping generate detailed subsurface maps.
SIT sources confirmed that the manual digging done so far will now be complemented by GPR sweeps over 20m x 40m areas. “This is similar to bomb detection,” an official noted. Drones may also be used to mount GPRs, enabling overhead scanning in difficult terrain.
Although widely applied in mining, landslide rescues, and terror tunnel detection, this marks GPR’s debut in Karnataka for a forensic investigation. However, officials warn the technique is costly, running into lakhs or even crores, prompting the SIT to seek pro-bono assistance from private operators in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kerala.
Challenges remain—dense vegetation and rocky soil can distort GPR signals, and small or decomposed skeletal remains may evade detection, especially if obstructed by metal or stone. Even if bones are found, DNA recovery could prove difficult due to advanced decomposition accelerated by regional climate conditions.
Still, officials hope GPR will provide critical leads, enabling targeted excavations and further analysis by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).