1 week ago
CID Probe Ordered as Karnataka Poacher Killings Face Close-Range Claims
Three men were killed in a forest in Karnataka on August 15.
Forest officials said the men were hunting deer and fired at officials first.
They said the officials then shot back in self-defence.
A fourth man, Joseph Mahima Das, escaped and said the group was looking for lost cattle and was sleeping when officials opened fire.
A postmortem report said some wounds showed signs of very close-range shooting.
This conflicts with the forest department’s explanation of how the shooting happened.
The BJP says the government has not shared enough information and wants a CBI investigation.
Karnataka has ordered its CID to investigate the shooting and attacks on forest camps.
Tamil Nadu politicians have also called for a high-level inquiry.
Karnataka Police transferred four cases linked to the August 15 Hanur forest shooting and subsequent village attacks to the CID.
Postmortem findings reportedly indicated close-range firing in at least one victim, conflicting with the forest department’s account.
Forest officials said they returned fire after suspected poachers allegedly fired first during an overnight operation.
The BJP demanded a CBI investigation, compensation of Rs 1 crore per family, and a government job for one member of each family.
Tamil Nadu political leaders questioned Karnataka’s explanation, while a fourth man who escaped offered a different account of the incident.
- Who
- Three alleged poachers—Anthony Swamy, John Rose Peter, and Sebastian David Kumar—were killed; Karnataka forest officials, the BJP, Karnataka Police, and Tamil Nadu political leaders have commented on the case.
- What
- A disputed shooting involving forest officials and three alleged poachers, followed by investigations into attacks on forest camps.
- Where
- The shooting occurred in the Hanur region of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, near the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
- When
- The shooting occurred on August 15; the CID probe was ordered on Tuesday after the BJP raised its allegations on Monday.
- Why
- Forest officials said they were responding to suspected poaching and gunfire, while the BJP and others questioned whether the men were shot unlawfully or from close range.
BJP and Critics’ Claims
Forest Department’s Account
Distance of the shooting
BJP and Critics’ Claims
The BJP said photographs and purported postmortem reports suggested that at least some shots were fired from extremely close range, raising doubts about the official account.
Forest Department’s Account
The forest department said the suspects were at a higher point near Karadikalu rocks and that officials shot toward the upper waist while responding to gunfire.
What happened before the firing
BJP and Critics’ Claims
A complaint citing an eyewitness said the three men were shot while sleeping, and the escaped man said the group was searching for lost cattle.
Forest Department’s Account
Forest officials said they warned the suspected poachers, but one allegedly fired after producing a muzzle flash, prompting return fire in self-defence.
Type of investigation required
BJP and Critics’ Claims
The BJP demanded a CBI investigation, accused the government of withholding the postmortem report, and questioned the whereabouts of Mahimadas. Tamil Nadu leaders also sought a high-level inquiry.
Forest Department’s Account
Karnataka Police ordered a CID probe, while the state government had already ordered a magisterial inquiry that identified questions requiring criminal investigation.
Key facts
- Victims
- Anthony Swamy, John Rose Peter, and Sebastian David Kumar
- CID action
- Karnataka Police transferred four cases from the Ramapura, Hanur, and Kollegala Rural police stations to the Criminal Investigation Department.
- Postmortem finding
- Sebastian David Kumar’s wounds reportedly showed burning, scorching, singeing, and soot deposits associated with close-range firing.
- Forest department account
- Officials said the men were suspected poachers, recovered about 34 kilograms of deer meat, and returned fire after one suspect allegedly fired first.
- Escaped man’s account
- Joseph Mahima Das, also identified as Benjamin or Mahimadas, said the group was searching for lost cattle and was sleeping when officials opened fire.
- Political demands
- The BJP sought a CBI probe, Rs 1 crore for each bereaved family, government assistance, and a government job for a family member.
- Other cases
- Three of the transferred cases concern alleged vandalism of forest department property by villagers after the killings.
Quotes
Ramalinga Reddy
Karnataka Forest Minister defending the forest department’s account
“At the time of the incident, the hunters were at a higher point than the department staff at the Karadikalu rocks. Since the hunters were not clearly visible to the department staff, they were shot in the upper part of the waist when the staff retaliated. The staff did not take the action with any malicious intent.”
indianexpress.com
“According to expert opinion, this does not appear to be a case in which shots were fired from a long range. There is a possibility that the firing took place from close range. We have information that the doctors who conducted the postmortem have also mentioned this aspect in their report.”
deccanchronicle.com
indianexpress.com
Sources
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Karnataka Transfers Chamarajanagar Poacher Shooting Cases To CID
