July 17, 2025 | Dharmasthala, Karnataka : Allegations of mass graves in the holy town of Dharmasthala have shaken Karnataka and the nation. A former sanitation worker, employed by the Dharmasthala temple administration from 1995 to 2014, has accused powerful figures of forcing him to bury or burn the bodies of over 100 women and girls, many allegedly raped and murdered over a span of nearly two decades.

The whistleblower, who belongs to the Dalit community, filed a formal complaint in June 2024, backed by photographs of skeletal remains he claims to have secretly exhumed. An FIR was registered by Dakshina Kannada police on July 4. The man has since appeared in court under police protection and offered to identify burial sites and name perpetrators on the condition of protection under the Witness Protection Act, 2018.

According to his testimony, the victims, some as young as 12 were buried near the Netravathi River and other remote spots to avoid detection. He described being threatened repeatedly: “We’ll cut you into pieces like them,” he was told. The victims, he said, bore visible signs of sexual assault, strangulation, or acid burns.

Among the cases now being revisited is the disappearance of 17-year-old Ananya Bhat, an MBBS student who vanished in 2003 during a college trip to Dharmasthala. Her mother, Sujatha, a former CBI stenographer, filed a fresh complaint this month, fearing her daughter may be among the victims buried in secret.

The explosive allegations come years after the 2012 Sowjanya rape-murder case, which also occurred in Dharmasthala and remains unresolved. Activists long suspected a broader pattern of abuse and cover-up. The latest revelations have reignited those suspicions, with prominent lawyers and human rights groups demanding a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by a sitting or retired judge.

The Dharmasthala temple, managed by the powerful Jain Heggade family, is one of the most prominent religious centers in Karnataka. It draws thousands of devotees, including political leaders, celebrities, and tourists.

However, the case has now cast a dark shadow over the temple town. The sanitation worker claims some of the individuals involved in the crimes were directly linked to the temple administration and held significant influence in the region. He has submitted a sealed envelope naming suspects to a Supreme Court advocate in case he is harmed.

Political reactions have been divided. BJP MLA Arvind Bellad dismissed the allegations as “baseless.” Meanwhile, the Karnataka Women’s Commission and civil society members have called for urgent intervention by the Chief Minister.

As the investigation unfolds, fears persist that local pressure may derail the case. Activists say only a transparent and independent SIT probe can bring justice to victims whose voices were silenced for years and whose remains may now be the key to exposing a systemic horror hidden behind spiritual sanctity.