Dharmasthala cops under fire for wiping off 15 years of unidentified deaths records

The Belthangady Police in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district have come under sharp criticism after admitting to destroying key records of unidentified death cases registered between 2000 and 2015, even as an investigation into mass burials in Dharmasthala — located within the same taluk — continues to unfold.

In response to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the police stated that postmortem reports, wall posters, notices, and photographs used in efforts to trace the identity of deceased individuals had been destroyed in accordance with routine administrative orders.

The RTI request had specifically sought details under Section 174(A) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), covering unidentified unnatural death cases recorded over a 15-year period. The Public Information Officer of Belthangady Police Station responded that the requested records were no longer available, having been disposed of under various circulars and procedures.

Citing Permanent Order Nos. 762/759 and 874, as well as Record Destruction Procedure No. 400 of the Karnataka Financial Code, the officer also referred to a notification from the Government of Karnataka Secretariat, dated June 26, 2013, and a more recent order issued by the Superintendent of Police on November 23, 2023. The letter concluded by stating that necessary action would be taken regarding the remaining cases.

However, legal experts and civil society groups have raised concerns about the legality and ethics of such destruction. They argue that police stations are not authorised to destroy criminal case records, particularly those involving unnatural deaths, which must be preserved in the public interest.

The move is especially troubling given that Dakshina Kannada is among Karnataka’s most advanced districts in digitisation. Critics question why the records were not digitised before being discarded, especially when they involve sensitive information about unidentified individuals whose families may still be searching for them.

The Karnataka Police Manual lays out specific procedures to be followed when an unidentified dead body is found, including public notifications and efforts to identify the deceased. The decision to destroy these records without digitisation is now being seen as a serious lapse in protocol and accountability.

The Neeti Team based in Kalmethadka, Kadaba Taluk, which had filed the RTI application, has expressed disappointment at the response and raised concerns about the implications for justice, transparency, and the rights of affected families.

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