Activists Seek Probe into Alleged Unnatural Deaths in Dharmasthala

Activists Seek Probe into Alleged Unnatural Deaths in Dharmasthala

Mangalore Today News Network

Dharmasthala, Aug 17, 2025: Activists Girish Mattannavar and Mahesh Shetty Timarody on Sunday said they stand firmly with the complainant in the case relating to the alleged burial and disposal of bodies in Dharmasthala village and are ready to face any inquiry into the source of funds supporting the campaign.

Addressing the media at Pangala, Mr. Mattannavar denied allegations of foreign funding and said they had been unfairly targeted in the Karnataka Assembly. “We are only demanding an inquiry into unnatural deaths between 1995 and 2014, where bodies were disposed of without proper procedure. We are not trying to malign the temple,” he said.

Citing specific cases, Mr. Mattannavar alleged that the Dharmasthala gram panchayat burnt the body of an unidentified woman on April 7, 2010, a day after her suspected murder, and similarly disposed of the body of a 40-year-old man found dead on March 7, 2010, without due inquiry. He urged that officials involved in such “unauthorised disposals” be investigated.