Pramesh S Jain
The Karnataka government has transferred four cases relating to the violence that followed the August 15 shooting of three suspected poachers in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
The Director General and Inspector General of Police, MA Saleem on Monday,directs the Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police to hand over the case files, along with the concerned investigating officers,to the CID.
The development comes amid mounting tension in Hanur and surrounding forest areas following the death of three men in a firing incident involving forest personnel on August 15.
The deceased—Antony Swamy,John Rose Peter and Kumar Sawariyappan, were killed in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Forest officials have maintained that the men were suspected poachers and that personnel opened fire in self-defence after allegedly coming under attack.
The families have disputed the account and claimed the men had entered the forest in search of missing cattle.
The government had already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the shooting, while the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission has also taken up the matter.
The Opposition BJP and JD(S) on Monday demanded a judicial probe into the incident.
Raising the issue in both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature,Opposition members questioned the circumstances surrounding the deaths and demanded an impartial investigation by an agency independent of the Forest Department.
The BJP and JD(S) also sought the resignation of Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy,holding him morally responsible for the incident.
The Opposition argued that a magisterial inquiry would not be sufficient to establish the facts and called for a judicial probe to determine whether the forest personnel had followed due procedure and whether the use of firearms was justified.
Four cases now with CID:
According to the DGP’s communication,the following cases registered in Chamarajanagar district have been transferred to the CID:
Ramapura Police Station Registered under Sections 189(2),191(2),126(2),352,351(2),324(4),132,115(2) and 190 of the BNS,Hanur Police Station–Registered under Section 103(1) of the BNS.,Hanur Police Station.
Registered under Sections 189(2),191(2),191(3),324(4), 329(3) and 190 of the BNS along with Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Kollegala Rural Police Station registered under Sections 189(2),191(2),191(3),324(3),324(5),324(6),329(4),132 and 190 of the BNS, and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Anti-poaching camps targeted:
The transfer assumes significance as several anti-poaching camps, forest offices,vehicles and staff facilities were allegedly attacked following the August 15 shooting.
According to reports,11 anti-poaching camps,staff quarters and government vehicles in the Cauvery and adjoining Male Mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuaries were either vandalised or damaged,with some camps allegedly blown up using explosives.
Holemuridatti and Minchinara Halla were among the facilities reportedly targeted.
In one reported incident,a forest department patrol vehicle was allegedly intercepted, and two forest personnel were assaulted and threatened.Other complaints alleged damage to anti-poaching camps and forest infrastructure.
The August 15 encounter remains under scrutiny.Forest authorities have said the group was involved in poaching and that weapons and suspected wild-animal meat were recovered from the area.
The state government has also maintained that the men had entered deep into the sanctuary for hunting.
