Dharmasthala cases: Kin of missing woman willing to cooperate if 1986 case is reopened
Mangaluru, July 24 (PTI): The sister of a 19-year-old woman, who went missing nearly four decades ago in Dharmasthala on Thursday expressed her willingness to cooperate with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) if the case is reopened.
Padmalatha, a second-year pre-university student in Ujire, was reported missing on December 22, 1986, after she left home to attend her college’s annual day celebration.
After nearly two months, her skeletal remains were discovered with her limbs tied, indicating possible foul play.
Speaking to reporters, Padmalatha’s sister Chandravathy said that despite large public protests at the time, the case had failed to progress even after being transferred to the CID.
“The case was eventually closed with no resolution,” she said.
However, the recent formation of an SIT to examine multiple high-profile cold cases in the region has renewed hope for justice, Chandravathy said.
“If the SIT decides to reopen Padmalatha’s case, I am ready to extend full cooperation,” she added.
There has been renewed public and media interest in long-pending cases in Dharmasthala, particularly after recent allegations surrounding unidentified graves found in the area.
No official announcement has been made yet on whether Padmalatha’s case will be taken up afresh.
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Delegation requests for Karnataka HC Bench in coastal districts, hands petition to Chief Justice
Udupi: A delegation of the High Court Bench Struggle Committee met and submitted a petition to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru at the Circuit House urging the opening of a High Court Bench in the coastal belt as well as a Mobile High Court Bench in Mangaluru.
MLC and convener of the Committee Ivan D’Souza, who spoke to the Chief Justice on the occasion, explained that the people of the coastal belt find it difficult to travel to Bengaluru to fight a petition in the High Court. The problem only aggravated during monsoon. D’Souza added that there was a delay in clearing the cases of Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, which was causing further inconvenience to the people.
The MLC, who pointed out that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also shown his preference for establishing a High Court Bench in the coastal region, requested for an approval to establish a Mobile High Court Bench first.
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Responding to this request, Chief Justice Bakhru assured to take action on the request as soon as possible.
The delegation included Mangalore Bar Association President Raghavendra HV, Dakshina Kannada Principal Government Pleader MP Noronha, General Secretary Sridhar H, Udupi Bar Association President Reynold Praveen Kumar, General Secretary Chandrashekhar Shetty, Vice-president Devadas V Shettigar and Brahmavar Bar Association President Kadoor Praveen Shetty.
