Three alleged poachers killed in shootout with forest officials in Karnataka sanctuary
Chamarajanagar, August 15: Early Saturday in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, a shootout between forest officials and alleged poachers in the Shagya forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary left three men—Antonisamy, Peter, and Kumar—dead, sparked tension in the region, and injured a forest official who is now receiving treatment at Kollegal Government Hospital.
According to the Forest Department, forest officials launched an operation in the Shagya forest area after receiving credible information about some people entering the forest to hunt wildlife. The department claims that during the operation, alleged poachers attempted to fire at the forest officials, prompting retaliatory action. Three people were shot dead during the operation.
The bodies of the three deceased have been sent to K.R. Hospital in Mysuru for post-mortem examination. According to Forest Department sources, a country-made gun and the carcass of a deer were also recovered during the operation.
Villagers level serious allegations against the Forest Department
The incident sparked anger among local villagers. Villagers protested against the Forest Department, alleging that the three killed were farmers, not hunters. The protesters alleged that forest officials first detained them and then shot them at close range.
The angry protesters entered the office of the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer in Shagy and damaged furniture. The situation is being monitored, given the tension in the area following the incident. Reacting to the incident in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that the government has received full information about the incident. He stated that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the firing incident in the forest area.
Chief Minister stated that weapons and other material related to the incident have been seized. The facts of the case will be presented to the public of the state once the investigation is complete.
