Women’s groups and concerned citizens, under the banner of the “Kondavaru Yaaru? Who Killed Women in Dharmasthala?” campaign, on Saturday released an open letter to Kusumavathy, mother of Saujanya who was raped and murdered near Dharmasthala in 2012, recognising her courage in pursuing justice for her daughter.

The letter expresses solidarity with her 14-year-long struggle and acknowledges her decision to approach the Supreme Court, which has now admitted her petition for reinvestigation and directed responses from the State government and the CBI.

Her fight, the letter notes, has moved beyond personal grief to become a powerful symbol of resistance against violence and injustice faced by women.

The campaign also raised serious concerns regarding the “lack of transparency” in the investigation into the alleged over 70 cases of rape, murder, disappearances, and unnatural deaths of women in and around Dharmasthala.

Senior lawyer S. Balan, Gouramma of Janavadi Mahila Sangathan, Mamata Yajaman and Madhu Bhushan of Naveddu Tandana Vedike, Jyoti A. of NFIW and Mallige Sirimane of Mahila Munnade addressed this issue at a press conference.

It was pointed out that despite the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 19, 2025, and a formal request by the State Women’s Commission on October 31, 2025, seeking a progress update, no report has been made public.

The campaign demanded that the SIT immediately release its progress report.

Mr. Balan referred to the Karnataka High Court’s order dated March 18, 2026, directing the State to submit full details of 74 unnatural deaths in the Dharmasthala region. He pointed to serious institutional lapses in the investigation process, including failure to register cases as per procedure, mishandling of unidentified bodies, hasty cremations, and suspicious deaths of witnesses.