3 Things Dharmasthala 'secret burials', India's Iron Dome, and super smart kids
Sep 2, 2025
Akram M, a reporter for The Indian Express specializing in Karnataka, discusses the explosive investigation into secret burials in Dharmasthala, fueled by shocking allegations from local workers. Amrita Nayak Dutta sheds light on India's ambitious Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aimed to rival Israel's Iron Dome and enhance air defense capabilities. Lastly, they explore an unprecedented Madhya Pradesh High Court ruling that allows a gifted 11-year-old to skip grades, raising questions about education policies and age restrictions.
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Whistleblower's Grave Allegations
- A former sanitation worker, C.N. Chinnaya, claimed he buried dozens of bodies near the Sri Manjana Teshwara Temple between 1998 and 2014.
- His complaint included allegations of sexual assault on some victims and led to an FIR and further investigation.
Limited Physical Finds, Long Forensics
- The SIT exhumed 13 marked spots over about two weeks and recovered two skeletal remains for forensic analysis.
- Forensic work and soil testing are ongoing to confirm identities and detect degraded human remains.
Gag Order Targeted Social Media Claims
- A Bengaluru court issued a wide gag order to curb defamatory social media content linking the Hegde family to the case.
- The order targeted mostly YouTube and Instagram posts and was later challenged and lifted by creators.