The Sowjanya Horata Samiti will stage a ‘Ujire Chalo’ protest on August 24, pressing for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the 2012 murder of Sowjanya and several other unresolved cases in Dharmasthala. The announcement was made by human rights activist K. Dinesh Ganiga at a press conference held at Pathrika Bhavan on Thursday.
Ganiga alleged that over the years, Dharmasthala has witnessed numerous serious crimes — including rape, murder, and robbery — with many cases remaining unsolved. He cited historical instances such as the rape and murder of student Padmalatha in 1973, the killing of schoolteacher Vedavalli in 1986, and the deaths of a mahout, Narayana, and Yamuna in 2012, where no accused were identified.
He further claimed that between 2002 and 2012, there were 452 unnatural deaths reported in Dharmasthala and Ujire, but most cases saw no arrests. This, he said, has eroded public trust in local law enforcement.
The activist criticized the absence of an acquittal committee in the Sowjanya case and questioned the silence of political leaders. Supporting the ongoing SIT probe into recent mass burial allegations, Ganiga urged that all unnatural deaths in the region be investigated by the same team.
A large turnout is expected for the August 24 protest, with participants coming from across Karnataka. The Samiti has already informed local police about the demonstration.