Activists demand justice for women killed in D'sthala

Bengaluru:The Kondavaru Yaaru? (Who Killed the Women in Dharmasthala?) campaign was launched on Tuesday at Gandhi Bhavana in Bengaluru, with women’s rights groups, activists, and human rights organizations coming together to demand justice for hundreds of women who were allegedly raped, murdered, or disappeared under suspicious circumstances in villages around Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district.
The campaign extended solidarity to the affected families and urged the state government to grant full autonomy to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases. Activists emphasized that the SIT must be free from political or external pressure to ensure a fair investigation.
“This is not just about individual crimes. It is the failure of the entire system - judiciary, police, and government, that has repeatedly failed women, deliberately or otherwise”, said activist Madhu Bhushan, speaking to News Trail, criticizing the series of neglected investigations.
Speakers, including Mallige Sirimane, K.S. Vimala, A. Jyothi, Du Saraswati, and Dr R. Sunandamma, drew attention to similar landmark struggles such as the Mathura, Bhanwari Devi, Nirbhaya, and Bilkis Banu cases, asserting that justice was won only through relentless public pressure. 
“Your honor and dignity cannot be bought at the cost of our lives. We demand answers, better investigations, and accountable systems”, Bhushan added, emphasizing the painfully familiar pattern of blaming the victims and erasing the crimes of the accused in the name of honour and religion of the perpetrators.
Participants condemned the systemic silencing of victims and the tendency to blame families in the name of community or religion. “Why do so many deaths occur in one region, always linked to the same river? Authorities cannot dismiss them as accidents when the pattern is so stark,” questioned Dr. Sunandamma, calling the deaths “obviously unnatural.”
The campaign listed five core demands: independence of the SIT with scope to reopen older unresolved cases; strict action against erring officials in Soujanya’s case as per the Karnataka High Court order; formation of an independent support committee for the SIT; improved safety measures in public and religious spaces; and implementation of the Ugrappa and Justice Verma Committee recommendations on preventing sexual violence.
Lawyer Mohit Kumar highlighted lapses in past investigations, including the suspicious 2010 death of a woman at Sharavati Lodge whose body was allegedly hurriedly cremated. He also cast doubt on the official account on the Santhosh Rao case, suggesting fabricated details.
Meanwhile, activist and lawyer Poorna urged for close monitoring of the SIT investigation, highlighting potential political pressures and institutional weaknesses. She emphasized the need for the SIT to investigate crimes spanning two decades and questioned why it, along with the Women’s Commissions, has not issued ethical reporting guidelines to the media.
The day-long event also featured a stirring performance by artist Mayarao, whose songs and performance depicted the injustice faced by victims, inspiring participants to chart a state action plan. 
The movement pledged documentation of all cases, outreach to women leaders across parties, grassroots mobilization, and collaboration with independent media to resist attempts to silence public discourse.
“The day every girl can walk free without fear will mark true justice and freedom”, concluded Dr Sunandamma, affirming the campaign’s resolve to continue the struggle until truth and accountability are achieved.