Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Three killed in Karnataka forest shootout, magisterial inquiry ordered
Very early one Saturday morning, three men were hurt badly in a big forest in Karnataka, India, and they died.
Some forest workers said the men were hunting wild animals, which is not allowed.
They said the men shot at them first, so they had to shoot back.
The men's families tell a very different story.
They say the men only went into the forest to look for their two missing cows.
The families say the forest workers shot the men without any warning.
Many people in the village got very sad and angry about what happened.
They protested outside a forest office.
The leader of Karnataka has asked a special official to investigate what really happened.
Now everyone is waiting to find out the truth.
Three men were killed in a shootout involving forest department officials in the Hanur forest range of Karnataka's Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary early Saturday.
Forest officials say the men were suspected poachers carrying about 2 kg of wildlife meat who opened fire on patrolling vehicles first, forcing officials to retaliate in self-defence.
Victims' families say the men were searching for two missing cows and were shot without provocation, calling it a staged encounter and demanding an independent inquiry.
A fourth man, Joseph Mahima Das, survived with minor injuries, while protesters later stormed the Shagya forest office in Hanur, damaging furniture, equipment, a motorcycle and the signboard.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar ordered a magisterial inquiry, and police registered a murder case based on a complaint by Antony Swamy's wife Mary.
Bodies were shifted to K R Hospital mortuary on Sunday for post-mortem examinations as crowds gathered demanding justice.
- Who
- Three villagers — Antony Swamy (50), John Rose Peter (42) and Kumar Sawariyappan (35) — were killed; Joseph Mahima Das (44) survived with minor injuries. Forest department officials and the victims' families dispute what happened.
- What
- A shootout in which forest department officials allegedly shot dead three men; officials call it self-defence against poachers, while families call it a staged encounter.
- When
- Early Saturday morning around 5 am; the men had set out around 6:30 pm Friday to search for missing cattle.
- Where
- Hanur forest range of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, about 4 km from Thomiyarpalya village; the sanctuary connects Bannerghatta National Park with the BRT Tiger Reserve and MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Why
- Disputed: officials claim the men were poachers who opened fire first; families say the men were killed while searching for missing cattle without any provocation.
Families and villagers
Forest department and state officials
Reason for the shooting
Families and villagers
The men went out Friday evening to search for two missing cows and were resting about 4 km from their village when forest officials opened fire without provocation between 3 am and 5 am; families call it a staged encounter.
Forest department and state officials
The men were suspected poachers carrying at least 2 kg of wild animal meat who opened fire on patrolling vehicles, forcing forest staff to fire back in self-defence.
Who should be held accountable
Families and villagers
Families demand an independent inquiry, insisting the victims carried no firearms and rejecting the forest department's narrative.
Forest department and state officials
Officials note police have registered a murder case and the Chief Minister ordered a magisterial inquiry, saying complete information will be made available after the probe and firearms have been seized.
- Deceased
- Antony Swamy (50), John Rose Peter (42), Kumar Sawariyappan (35)
- Survivor
- Joseph Mahima Das (44), with minor injuries
- Location
- Hanur forest range, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka
- Time of incident
- Around 5 am, Saturday
- Forest officials' account
- Poaching suspects carrying at least 2 kg of wildlife meat; opened fire first; officials retaliated in self-defence
- Families' account
- Men searching for two missing cows; fired upon without provocation between 3 am and 5 am
- Inquiry
- Magisterial inquiry ordered by CM D K Shivakumar; detailed report requested within a week
- Public protest
- Shagya forest office in Hanur stormed; furniture, equipment, a motorcycle and signboard damaged