The investigation into alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala has entered a crucial forensic stage. Karnataka's Special Investigation Team (SIT) is comparing DNA extracted from skeletal remains with blood samples from relatives of 17 missing persons.
The DNA comparison exercise follows the recovery of seven human skulls and other skeletal remains in the Banglegudde reserve forest in 2025. Investigators believe the testing could determine whether any of the remains belong to individuals whose disappearances were reported over the past several years.
Preliminary forensic findings indicate that all of the recovered skeletal remains belong to male individuals. The SIT has also initiated the process of obtaining samples from the families of nine more missing persons, which will be subjected to the same analysis once collected.
Alongside the forensic examination, investigators have widened their search for possible identities by gathering records of missing persons from various bureaus and police stations across the state and neighboring states.
