A crowd of protestors began a march towards Dharmasthala in Karnataka, demanding justice for Sowjanya — a young girl whose mysterious death near the temple town over ten years ago continues to spark public outrage.
The march, which aimed to highlight long-standing grievances and press for accountability, was interrupted when another group attempted to block the protestors from entering the area. This confrontation resulted in a brief but tense face-off between the two sides.
Law enforcement officials soon arrived at the location to manage the situation. In order to prevent further escalation, police intervened and escorted the protestors away from the scene. The authorities stated that the step was necessary to maintain peace and avoid any untoward incident.
The demonstration comes amid heightened public concern following disturbing revelations by a former sanitation worker, who recently accused temple authorities of being involved in mass burials, illegal activities, and crimes targeting women.
Responding to the growing demand for transparency and accountability, the Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into these grave allegations. The SIT is expected to investigate claims of secret mass graves, unsolved disappearances, and systematic crimes stretching back decades.
With renewed attention on older unresolved cases — including Sowjanya’s — citizens and civil rights groups are urging the SIT to thoroughly probe all angles without political interference.
As public unrest grows, the demand for truth and justice in Dharmasthala gains momentum once again.