“Who Killed Women in Dharmasthala?”: Women’s Groups Write to Sonia Gandhi Amid SIT Probe

Bengaluru: The controversy over a string of mysterious deaths in Dharmasthala has intensified, with several women’s organisations rallying under the banner “Who Killed Women in Dharmasthala?” and directly petitioning Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The move comes even as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to probe allegations of unnatural deaths and sexual assaults in the region.

The letter recalled that in July 2025, the Karnataka State Women’s Commission had already pressed the Chief Minister to establish an SIT following alarming reports of deaths and assaults. Activists have long flagged Dharmasthala’s dark history, citing the unsolved 2012 Sowjanya rape-murder case, the 1986 Padmalatha case, and the 1979 Vedavalli case.

According to RTI data referenced in the letter, 424 deaths were recorded in the Ujire–Dharmasthala belt between 2001 and 2012. Despite a CBI investigation in the Sowjanya case, the perpetrators remain unidentified, fuelling suspicions of deep-rooted cover-ups.

Adding to the unease, a worker recently claimed to hold documents linked to multiple suspicious deaths. Meanwhile, complainants have reportedly faced intimidation and arrests, raising questions about the sincerity of ongoing probes.

The political climate has further muddied the matter. The BJP has accused the Congress of turning the crisis into a “religious war,” while several Congress heavyweights — including Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, and MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar — have allegedly instructed party members not to comment on Dharmasthala publicly.

The organisations demanded that the SIT closely examine the 2018 Ugrappa Report, ensure accountability of errant officers, and prevent political interference. Their letter urged Sonia Gandhi to step in to guarantee that “justice for women is not sacrificed at the altar of political convenience.”