Three suspected Karnataka poachers killed in clash with forest personnel, CM orders probe
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said articles had been seized and the magisterial inquiry would establish the facts
Three alleged poachers were killed in an exchange of fire with forest personnel in the Datti forest area under the Shagya range in Karnataka on Saturday (August 15), leading Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to order a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Inquiry ordered into firing
The incident took place around 5.10 am in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest personnel acting on hunting information came across four men, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.
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"The Chief Minister directed that a magistrate inquiry be conducted to ascertain the facts from both sides. We need to find out what actually happened and whether the firing was deliberate or carried out in self-defence," said Reddy.
Elaborating further, the minister stated that two forest teams entered the area after receiving information on hunters. They followed a torchlight and intercepted the men. The group allegedly had two country-made pistols and four bags of deer meat.
Forest team cites self-defence
"At that point, they allegedly attempted to fire. The forest personnel told them, 'We will fire in self-defence.' Two of them died on the spot. One person was injured and was taken to hospital, where he reportedly died," he said. One person allegedly fled the spot, the minister said.
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Two country-made pistols and four bags of deer meat had been seized.
Shivakumar said articles had been seized and the magisterial inquiry would establish the facts. "Some items and objects have been seized. They have said that all the details will come out after the magistrate's inquiry," he said.
Bodies taken for post-mortem
According to a PTI report quoting police sources the deceased have been identified as residents of Thomiyarpalya in Hanur taluk. Their bodies were taken to a hospital mortuary in Mysuru. Post-mortem examinations followed the arrival of family members, stated the report.
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Relatives of the deceased allegedly vandalised the Shagya forest office in Hanur taluk, damaging furniture, equipment, a motorcycle and the office board. Other articles were thrown onto the road, it added. They staged protests in Chamarajanagar and Mysuru.
Activist demands murder case
Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj condemned the encounter and called for criminal action.
"If the concerned ministers genuinely have concern about this, they should first resign. A murder case should be filed against them. They should not be booked under an ordinary case; a murder case should be filed against them," Nagaraj said.
"We are giving life imprisonment to so many people. They have killed three people together today. In Chamarajanagar. This is not right," he added.
Nagaraj said he would stage a satyagraha in front of the Forest Department office. Police are monitoring the situation, sources added.