Dharmasthala Cops Erase 15 Years of Unidentified Deaths Records, Sparks Outrage
By : Krishna Mishra
The Belthangady Police in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district are facing widespread criticism after admitting they destroyed records of unidentified deaths registered between 2000 and 2015. This timeline overlaps closely with the period during which a whistleblower has alleged mass burials occurred in Dharmasthala, a temple town within the same taluk.
The whistleblower, who came forward earlier this year, claimed that between 1998 and 2014, he was compelled to bury or cremate numerous bodies — many of them women and minors — some reportedly showing signs of sexual violence. His revelations have triggered a state-wide investigation and public outrage.
In response to a Right to Information (RTI) request, Belthangady Police confirmed that postmortem reports, wall posters, public notices, and identification photographs related to unidentified bodies had been destroyed. Authorities stated this was done as part of routine administrative procedures.