The Dharmasthala police registered the FIR in the case on July 4 on the basis of a complaint filed by the whistleblower, a former sanitation worker, earlier this month. (Express Photo)The probe in the Dharmasthala secret burial case had a breakthrough on Thursday, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) dug out pieces of a skeleton during an inspection carried out near the temple town in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district.The remains were found at the sixth location identified by a whistleblower who has claimed that he was forced to bury several bodies of alleged sexual assault and murder victims between 1998 and 2014 and was warned against approaching the police.According to sources, a portion of a skull and bone fragments were found at the spot, apart from pieces of cloth. The exhumation was carried out along the banks of the Netravati river, close to Dharmasthala. SIT officials sealed the remains and sent them for forensic analysis.Since Tuesday, SIT officials have been carrying out inspections at various locations identified by the complainant. While the first spot was dug up amid heavy rainfall on Tuesday, four other locations were dug up on Wednesday. However, the SIT did not find any remains during the first two days, even as the lawyer of the mother of a medical student who had allegedly gone missing in Dharmasthala in 2003 claimed that an ATM card and a PAN card were found at one of the four locations on the second day.Also Read | Dharmasthala secret burials: No headway in excavation; SIT chief made eligible for central deputationThe Dharmasthala police registered the FIR in the case on July 4 on the basis of a complaint filed by the whistleblower, a former sanitation worker, earlier this month.After he had his statement recorded by a judicial magistrate, SIT officials escorted the complainant to the forested region around Dharmasthala and marked 13 places for inspection. Of the 13 places, six have been dug up to date.SIT officials are learnt to have sought assistance from forensic experts to preserve the skeletal remains found after digging up the spots. A dog squad was pushed into service to locate any other remains found at the spot. With more remains expected to be found as per the allegations made by the whistleblower, a temporary shelter was put up there to prevent further contamination of any other remains.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Bangalore