Fri Jan 24 01:35:00 UTC 2025: ## Families Still Seeking Answers Four Years After Deadly Shivamogga Blast
**SHIVAMOGGA, KARNATAKA –** Four years after a devastating explosion at a stone-crushing unit in Hunasodu, Shivamogga district, the families of three missing men are still searching for answers and closure. The January 21, 2021, blast, which involved a lorry carrying explosives, killed six people and left three others – C. Devendra, R. Nagaraj, and Punith – officially declared missing. While police initially linked Devendra’s DNA to an unidentified body, his father, Chikka Bore Gowda, refuses to accept this, citing inconsistencies in police reports regarding call records.
The initial investigation, handled by the Shivamogga Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) Police, led to a chargesheet naming several individuals, including the lorry owner and those involved in supplying explosives. However, the High Court quashed the proceedings in September 2023 due to jurisdictional issues, effectively restarting the investigation. The case has now been returned to the Shivamogga Rural Police for re-investigation.
The families of the missing men, along with other villagers whose homes were damaged in the blast, are demanding a thorough Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, suspecting foul play. They allege the missing men may have been victims of circumstances involving influential figures. Meanwhile, villagers continue to seek government compensation for damages to their properties caused by the powerful blast, which was heard kilometers away. The stone-crushing site remains abandoned, a stark reminder of the tragedy and ongoing uncertainty. The Shivamogga SP has confirmed that the case will be re-investigated and a fresh chargesheet filed, offering a glimmer of hope for the grieving families.
First Piper 