Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, July 30: Despite an intensive three-day search operation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the forests near Dharmasthala and the Nethravathi bathing ghat area, no human remains have been recovered so far in the high-profile mass grave case.
Sources said that on Wednesday, July 30, during digging operations at the first site marked by an anonymous informant, the SIT recovered a red blouse, a PAN card, and an ATM card. Advocate Manjunath N, representing Ananya’s mother Sujata Bhat, issued a press release stating that these items were found about 2.5 feet below the surface, and termed them as crucial evidence that could lead to a breakthrough in the case.
The SIT has so far investigated three of the 13 locations identified by the informant but has not found any skeletal remains. On the third day of operations on Wednesday, the team carried out searches at the fifth marked spot near the Nethravathi bathing ghat area but concluded without success.
SIT chief Dr Pranav Mohanty, who visited the spot today, said, "So far, nothing has been found. I am not an astrologer to predict if anything will be found in the future. The operation will continue, but no further comments will be made at this stage."
The SIT is operating in challenging conditions, with dense forest terrain and heavy mosquito infestation hindering progress. During previous floods in 2019, the bathing ghat area was submerged, leading to speculation that any possible buried remains might have been washed away.
Meanwhile, reports indicate the informant had also identified an additional eight potential burial sites beyond the initial 13, suggesting the investigation could take longer than expected.
Following the end of Wednesday’s operation, the informant was taken to the SIT office for further questioning. The next phase of the search is scheduled for July 31, focusing on the sixth location.