Amid explosive claims of mass burials involving women and children—many allegedly subjected to sexual assault—the Karnataka State Commission for Women has demanded accountability from authorities. The panel has written to Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging a comprehensive report on missing cases in and around Dharmasthala over the last two decades.
Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary took suo motu notice of a whistleblower’s statement and media coverage surrounding the disturbing allegations. In a letter dated July 14, she highlighted the confession of a former sanitation staffer who said he was coerced into burying the bodies of girls and women who showed signs of abuse while employed by the Dharmasthala temple between 1995 and 2014.
The Commission also referenced complaints from several families who claimed police failed to respond properly when they tried to file missing person reports.
In its official communication, the panel requested specific data from district police:
-
Total number of women and students reported missing in the Dharmasthala area in the past 20 years
Number of missing persons found versus those still unaccounted for
Updates on investigations into suspicious deaths, homicides, and sexual crimes
The Commission has asked for a detailed report within seven days of receiving the notice.
The whistleblower, whose complaint sparked the ongoing probe, approached police through legal counsel on July 3. He later gave his statement under Section 183 of the BNSS on July 11 in a closed courtroom in Belthangady.