Bhatkal, September 15, 2025 – Venkatesh Navada, the in-charge Chief Officer of Bhatkal Town Municipal Council, has filed a complaint with the Bhatkal Town Police Station against unidentified individuals for spreading false news on social media, alleging a pile of animal bones was dumped in an open hilly area of Makhdoom Colony. The misinformation, accompanied by photos and videos, was shared around 9:00 PM on September 9, 2025, with the intent to incite fear and disrupt public peace, according to the complaint.

The Bhatkal Town Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the culprits and take legal action. Initial findings, corroborated by CPI Diwakar, confirm that the viral photos and videos are old, dating back to 2013-14, and do not reflect the current situation in Makhdoom Colony. A physical inspection by police and municipal officials found no large heap of animal bones as depicted. On Wednesday, municipal workers cleared garbage and waste from the area, though a few old bones were found in a small bundle in a ravine on Thursday, prompting a separate complaint from the Forest Department.

CPI Diwakar stated, “The viral photos of heaps of bones are old. We conducted an immediate inspection after receiving the information, and no such pile was found. The municipality cleared the waste, but a few old bones were detected in a small bundle. Based on the Forest Department’s complaint, a case has been registered, and we are investigating further.”

Additional SP Krishnamurthy clarified, “The scale of bones shown in the viral photos does not exist in Bhatkal’s hilly area. Only two to three small bundles of waste were found.” The police noted that similar incidents occurred in 2013-14 when animal bones and waste were dumped in the same area, causing a public outcry and foul odor, leading to complaints and police action at the time. The current misinformation appears to repurpose those old visuals to create unrest.

The Forest Department has also filed a complaint regarding the recent discovery of a few bones, and a case has been registered for further investigation. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information to prevent panic and maintain communal harmony.