Feminist group urges Karnataka CM to ensure independent probe in Dharmasthala crimes

By A Representative

The () has issued an urgent appeal to , demanding a "fair and comprehensive investigation and accountability" into the horrific series of crimes against women in that have spanned decades.

The national coalition, in its letter dated October 25, 2025, throws its nationwide weight behind the ongoing state-wide campaign, "Kondavaru Yaaru? Who Killed Women in Dharmasthala?", which has been relentlessly highlighting a systematic pattern of disappearances, rapes, unnatural deaths, and murders of women in the small region of , Dakshina Kannada district.

While acknowledging the state government's prompt formation of a () in July 2025 to investigate the 'mass burial' case, ALIFA expressed deep concern over the probe's scope and independence. The alliance stated that the SIT would certainly require more time and resources to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report, a feat they believe is only possible through the Chief Minister's personal intervention and oversight.

The letter calls for the SIT's mandate to be formally expanded beyond the "mass burial" case to cover all previous unresolved crimes in Dharmasthala. It further demands that the SIT must remain fully independent and protected from external pressures from political, administrative, or religious quarters, and that it should investigate the systemic lapses and police failures over the past decades where impartial investigations were not conducted despite complaints from aggrieved families.

The alliance has fully endorsed the 10-point demand charter of the "Kondavaru Yaaru" campaign. These demands include a comprehensive re-investigation of all murder and rape cases from the last decade, including high-profile ones like Soujanya, Padmalatha, and Yamuna/Narayana, which were closed despite identified killers.

The campaign also calls for a probe into the suspicious deaths of witnesses linked to these cases, such as Ravi Poojary and Varija Acharya.

Furthermore, it urges strict legal action against officials for dereliction of duty, as directed by the , and insists the state government ensure the safety, anonymity, and protection of complainants and witnesses, along with fair compensation for victims' families.

For long-term reform, the demands include the expedited implementation of the and reports, making mandatory in all religious institutions, and implementing healthy, respect-based sex education.

The letter frames the Dharmasthala case as a "litmus test" for the Congress government, which was voted into power on the promise of upholding constitutional values. It warns that the women of Karnataka and India will be watching the government's actions and decisions.

ALIFA has also urged the government to welcome the inputs of independent women's rights activists to support the SIT and to take strong legal action against anyone attempting to obstruct the investigation, no matter how influential they may be.

The appeal is signed by over 40 prominent feminists, academics, lawyers, and social activists from across India, including Arundhati Ghosh, Dr. Gabriele Dietrich, Anuradha Talwar, and Adv. Shalu Nigam, signaling a pan-Indian solidarity with the victims' families who have been seeking justice for decades.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Blurring the line between fiction and political narrative

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" does not wait to be remembered; it arrives almost on the heels of its predecessor, released on March 19, 2026, just months after the first film’s December 2025 debut. The speed of its arrival feels less like creative urgency and more like calculated timing—cinema responding not to storytelling rhythm but to the emotional climate of its audience. Director Aditya Dhar, along with actor Yami Gautam, appears acutely aware of this moment and how to harness it.

BJP accounts for 99% of political donations in Gujarat: Corporate giants dominate

By Jag Jivan An analysis of the official data on donations received by national parties from Gujarat during the Financial Year 2024-25 reveals a staggering concentration of funding, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for nearly the entirety of the contributions. The data, compiled in a document titled "National Parties donations received from Gujarat during FY-2024-25," lists thousands of transactions, painting a detailed picture of the financial backing for political parties from one of India’s most industrially significant states.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Captains extraordinaire: Ranking cricket’s most influential skippers

By Harsh Thakor* Ranking the greatest cricket captains is a subjective exercise, often sparking passionate debate among fans. The following list is not merely a tally of wins and losses; it is an assessment of leadership’s deeper impact. My criteria fuse a captain’s playing record with their tactical skill, placing the highest consideration on their ability to reshape a team’s fortunes and inspire those around them. A captain who inherited a dominant empire is judged differently from one who resurrected a nation’s cricket from the doldrums. With that in mind, here is my perspective on the finest leaders the game has ever seen.

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Search This Blog