Two people have been arrested for allegedly slaughtering cattle and dumping the remains in forest land near Muggum Colony in Bhatkal, police said on Thursday.

On the second consecutive day, the SIT team continued its search operation in Banglegudde, Dharmasthala village, Belthangady taluk, focusing on the recovery of skeletal remains.

Ahead of the social and educational survey (caste census) that the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission will conduct from September 22, a meeting of Muslim jamaats and organisation leaders of Dakshina Kannada district was held under the leadership of Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid and the Muslim Central Committee on Wednesday evening at the Yenepoya Hospital auditorium in Mangaluru.

Social worker and activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarody has filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging gross police excess, political targeting, and violation of his fundamental rights. In a letter dated September 13, 2025, he sought an independent inquiry into a series of FIRs registered against him and his supporters, accusing the police of intimidation, fabrication of cases, and acting under political pressure. 

The Special Investigation Team probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case reportedly found human remains at nine spots at Banglegudda near the Nethravathi bathing ghat on Wednesday. 

 In connection with the Dharmasthala case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has begun a large-scale search operation across the 12-acre Banglegudde forest area near the Netravati bathing ghat.

Advocate Rohit Pandey of the Supreme Court has written to the Chief Justice of India requesting the apex court to take suo motu cognizance of the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala and to place the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.

The bail plea of Chinnayya, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the Dharmasthala case, was rejected on September 16.