Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Sep 18: The discovery of a skull and skeletal remains at Banglegudde near Dharmasthala has taken a new turn. An identity card found at the site has raised suspicions that the remains could belong to a man from Kodagu who went missing seven years ago.

Police recovered an old ID card from the spot where the remains were found. The card is said to belong to U B Ayyappa of T Shettigeri village, Ponnampete taluk, Kodagu district.

Missing for seven years
Ayyappa had reportedly gone missing seven years ago after travelling to Mysuru for medical treatment. His family had filed a missing complaint at the Kutta police station in Kodagu, but no trace of him was found all these years.

Now, with the recovery of the ID card and skeletal remains, suspicions have grown stronger that the remains could indeed be Ayyappa’s. The skeleton has been sent for forensic testing, and DNA matching with the ID will confirm the identity. Only after the test results will it be clear whether the death was accidental or a case of murder. Police have registered a case and are investigating further.

Seven skulls recovered in two days of search
Meanwhile, in connection with the Banglegudde case, the special investigation team (SIT) concluded its second day of search operations today. In total, seven human skulls and skeletal remains have been recovered.

The SIT team, which arrived at the site in the morning, carried out a three-hour-long search operation. During the search, two additional skulls and bones were found, along with objects including a walking stick. These have been taken into custody as possible clues in the investigation.

Operation ends
Over two days, the SIT recovered five skulls on the first day and two more on the second, making a total of seven. The remains were collected in plastic containers and pipes and transported to the SIT office.

Police are now investigating to determine who these skeletal remains belonged to and how they ended up at Banglegudde. Forensic reports will clarify whether the case involves murder or links to any illegal activities.

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