Mangalore: Bheema has expressed deep concern over the inability to locate bodies he personally buried, stating that he approached the court after being haunted by guilt and recurring dreams of the deceased and their skeletons. He assured authorities of full cooperation in the investigation, attributing the disappearance of the bodies to factors such as road expansions, heavy rains, forest paths, and changes along the Netravati riverbank. Bheema revealed that he had buried up to 70 bodies along a single stretch of the riverbank.
He further explained that the Netravati riverbank landscape has changed significantly over the years, with sand deposits and growth of vegetation making the exact burial sites difficult to identify. Bheema indicated 16 locations so far and stated he is prepared to identify up to 25 more. Several witnesses, including Tukaram Gowda and Pandurang, who assisted Bheema in 2009, have come forward, ready to confirm burial locations despite some difficulty recognizing the current masked individuals presented in court.
Another local, Purandar Gowda, alleged that a police officer had been present during one of the burials, noting that development work over the past 15 years has hindered the identification of exact sites. Gowda added that he initially feared speaking out but has now come forward following proper court arrangements.