Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Karnataka CID Questions Forest Officials’ Account of Fatal Shootings
Three men were shot and killed in a wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka.
Forest officials said the men were poachers and had fired first.
A fourth man who was with them escaped and gave an account that differed from the department’s version.
The state’s criminal investigation agency examined the deaths.
It says the autopsy reports point to shots fired from close range.
It also says a video does not show a weapon that officials said was found with the men.
The agency has asked a court to take back bail granted to three forest officials.
The court has issued notice, but the case is still being considered.
Three men were killed by forest officials in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on August 15; the department described them as poachers.
The forest department said the men were armed and fired first, prompting retaliatory shots; a fourth man escaped.
Autopsy reports cited by the CID describe close-range shotgun wounds, while the CID says evidence indicates the victims may have been on the ground.
The CID says crime-scene video does not show the weapon allegedly found with the victims, and that the bodies were removed without preserving the scene.
The CID has asked the Karnataka High Court to cancel anticipatory bail granted to three forest officials; the court issued notice to them.
- Who
- Three men—Anthony Swamy, John Rose Peter and Sebastian David Kumar—were killed; the CID is challenging bail for three forest officials.
- What
- A CID investigation has questioned the forest department’s account of the fatal shooting and cited close-range autopsy findings and crime-scene concerns.
- When
- The shooting occurred in the early hours of August 15; the CID investigation was ordered on August 24.
- Where
- Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hanur in Karnataka, bordering Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The CID says the evidence raises questions about whether the shooting was justified and whether required procedures were followed.
CID’s concerns
Forest department’s account
Circumstances of the shooting
CID’s concerns
The CID says there is no material showing the men posed a threat that justified killing them at close range.
Forest department’s account
The forest department said the men were armed, fired first, and were shot when staff retaliated.
Autopsy and position of the men
CID’s concerns
The CID cites autopsy findings of close-range shots and evidence suggesting the victims may have been on the ground facing upwards.
Forest department’s account
Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the men were at a higher point and were shot in the upper waist when staff returned fire.
Evidence and procedure
CID’s concerns
The CID says the scene video does not show the alleged weapon, the bodies were removed, and the scene was not preserved.
Forest department’s account
The forest department said searches were based on actionable intelligence and that bags of deer meat were found nearby.
- Incident date
- August 15 (year not specified in the article)
- Deaths
- Three men: Anthony Swamy, John Rose Peter and Sebastian David Kumar
- Escaped witness
- Joseph Mahima Das, also known as Benjamin
- Investigation
- A CID investigation was ordered on August 24
- Anticipatory bail
- Granted to the three forest officials by a local court in Hanur on September 10
- High Court action
- The Karnataka High Court registered the CID’s plea on September 24 and issued notice on September 30
- Autopsy findings
- Reports described shotgun injuries as having been fired at close range
- 1991 notification
- Sets conditions for forest personnel’s use of firearms and reporting of shooting incidents