Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Karnataka Forest Fire Suspected Revenge After Three Poachers' Deaths
A fire damaged about 10 acres of forest in Karnataka.
Officials think people may have started it on purpose.
They suspect it was revenge for three suspected poachers who were killed on August 15.
A nearby camp used to prevent poaching was also destroyed.
Several other forest camps were allegedly attacked with explosives.
No one was injured in those blasts.
Karnataka officials say the three men fired first, so forest personnel responded in self-defence.
Tamil Nadu leaders disagree with that explanation and want a thorough investigation.
Karnataka’s government says it will wait for the inquiry before making further comments.
A suspected arson attack damaged about 10 acres in the Shilubepura forest area of Chamarajanagar district.
Forest officials believe the fire may have been set in retaliation for the August 15 deaths of three suspected poachers.
A poaching prevention camp near Jageri was also destroyed, while several camps were allegedly blown up with explosives.
The Minchinarehalla camp reportedly suffered dynamite and gelatin-stick damage, with no injuries reported.
Tamil Nadu political leaders have challenged Karnataka’s account of the deaths and demanded an independent, high-level investigation.
- Who
- Karnataka Forest Department personnel, unidentified suspected attackers, and the three deceased men—Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter and Kumar—are central to the report; Tamil Nadu and Karnataka officials have also responded.
- What
- A forest fire damaged about 10 acres, and anti-poaching camps were allegedly destroyed with explosives amid controversy over the deaths of three suspected poachers.
- When
- The three men were killed on August 15; several camps were allegedly targeted during the night of August 18-19, and the forest fire was reported days later.
- Where
- The incidents occurred in and around the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and Shilubepura forest area in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
- Why
- Forest officials suspect the fire and camp attacks were retaliation for the three deaths, while Tamil Nadu critics dispute Karnataka’s account of the shooting.
Karnataka Authorities
Tamil Nadu Critics
Account of the shooting
Karnataka Authorities
Karnataka authorities say forest personnel conducting an anti-poaching operation came under fire and shot the three men in self-defence.
Tamil Nadu Critics
Tamil Nadu political parties question Karnataka’s explanation, saying the victims were Tamils; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay called the explanation unacceptable.
Investigation
Karnataka Authorities
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the government would wait for the outcome of the inquiry before commenting further.
Tamil Nadu Critics
Tamil Nadu political leaders and Assembly members have demanded a fair, high-level investigation into the forest department firing.
Cause of the forest attacks
Karnataka Authorities
Forest officials suspect miscreants set the fire and attacked camps to avenge the deaths of the three suspected poachers.
Tamil Nadu Critics
The report does not identify the attackers or establish their motive; the revenge explanation remains a suspicion.
- Forest damage
- About 10 acres in the Shilubepura forest area were damaged.
- Destroyed camp
- A poaching prevention camp near Jageri was destroyed.
- Camp attacks
- Several camps in the Kothanur zone were allegedly targeted during the night of August 18-19.
- Reported explosives
- The Minchinarehalla camp was reportedly attacked with dynamite and gelatin sticks.
- Deaths
- Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter and Kumar were shot dead on August 15.
- Injuries
- No injuries were reported in the anti-poaching camp blasts.
- Government position
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the government would await the inquiry into the August 15 incident.