Dharmasthala case: Sowjanya's uncle claims multiple skulls seen in SIT's spot visit

Vittal Gowda, uncle of 2012 rape-murder victim Sowjanya in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala, has claimed that he saw multiple human remains during the Special Investigation Team’s spot mahazar at Banglegudde in the ongoing mass-burial probe.

The checks were conducted at the location where the witness-complainant reportedly found the skull presented as evidence in court.

Gowda said that during two SIT visits to the forest near the Nethravathi bathing ghat, he noticed several skulls, scattered bones and small ritual pots. “The first time, three skeletal remains were within ten feet. On the second visit, I could clearly see at least five,” he stated, describing a mound of freshly dug soil that looked like a burial site.

“I told the officers I’m ready to show them the exact spots whenever they call, even at midnight,” Gowda added. He claimed locals were shocked by the sheer number of bodies apparently buried in a single location.

Earlier, complainant ‘mask man’ Chinnayya, who first said he exhumed a skull from the site, was arrested for perjury.

Chinnayya later alleged that Gowda, along with activist Girish Mattanavar and another associate, brought the skull to police. Both Gowda and Mattanavar told the SIT they only followed Chinnayya’s instructions.

On September 6, SIT officers led by SP CA Simon summoned Gowda and took him to the Bangla Gudde forest area to conduct a mahazar. The Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar and forensic team were not present during the exercise.

- Ends