While TN politicians are insisting a CBI probe into the deaths of Three Tamils, the Karnataka govt, has ordered CID Probe. The judicial probe is underway.
The Karnataka Police on August 25 ordered a CID probe into the August 15 shooting of three alleged poachers by forest officials in the Hanur region, even as postmortem reports indicated that at least one of the victims had been shot from close range, contradicting the forest department’s claims. Four cases registered at the Ramapura, Hanur, and Kollegala Rural police stations have thus been transferred to the CID in an order issued by DGP Dr M A Saleem.
According to a postmortem report from the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Sebastian David Kumar had two shotgun bullet entry wounds, unlike the others who had single bullet wounds. A shot fired to the left side of his chest reveals “burning/scorching” and “singeing” of chest hair, which is indicative of a very close-range gunshot. Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar has refused to order CBI probe into this.
On August 24 BJP Karnataka state president B Y Vijayendra demanded a CBI probe into the killings asking “Why is there a need to keep the postmortem report confidential? Shouldn’t the people know what the report contains? The government’s failure to release the report itself is giving rise to several doubts”.
He called for compensation of Rs 1 crore for each bereaved family, along with government assistance and a job for a family member.
A war of words between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka political leaders including ministers has been going since August 14 when three men from Tamil Nadu died following alleged firing by a Karnataka forest department guards.
Victims’ families raise the question of suspicious murder. Karnataka Chief Minister and minister warned the TN people not poach into the affairs of another state as it had occurred in their state.
It echoed in the current budget session of State Assembly. During a special call attention moved by members of various political parties, Tamil Nadu energy and law minister R Nirmala Kumar, in his reply, said CM Joseph Vijay had strongly condemned the brutal killing of the three Tamils and the Karnataka’s forest department’s explanation was unacceptable.
The minister quoting the CM said “Antony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar from Tamil Nadu had been living Hanur taluk of Karnataka. They were shot dead by the Karnataka Forest Department personnel in the Cauvery wildlife Sanctuary on August 15 and demanded an impartial inquiry and constitution of a high- level inquiry committee. The minister said Karnataka had assured the TN that an appropriate investigation would be launched into the deaths and that their bodies were handed over to their families after the assurance. Magimai Das, who suffered injuries during the alleged shoot out was undergoing treatment at a Mysuru hospital and wanted the government to provide full assistance to him.
Recalling the CM’s describing the killing as a “massacre” and sought a proper inquiry as the explanations given by Karnataka was not acceptable. DMK MLA Manoj Pandian described the alleged encounter by Karnataka Forest department as fake and a grave human rights violation. He disputed the Karnataka’s version that the trio indulged in poaching.
The DMK MLA, who initiated the debate, wanted a judicial probe and that murder charges should be slapped against those involved in the killing.
TN Forest Minister R V Ranjith Kumar said the TN govt was considering providing financial assistance of Rs.10 lakh each of the victim’s families.
Former CM Edapadi K Palaniswamy (EPS) said “TN govt. should hold talks with Karnataka govt to prevent such incidents in future besides demanding a high-level inquiry, possibly a CBI probe and adequate compensation to the victims. On August 18, EPS moved a motion in the Assembly demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
Congress MLA, Tharahai Cuthbert strongly condemned the ‘encounter and demanded a CBI probe into the incident and adequate compensation for victims as the Rs.5 lakh announced by Karnataka govt was not sufficient.
TN BJP lone MLA BojaRajam doubted the killing saying there was a suspicion and urged the state government to give enough compensation to the families of the victims.
PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss in a post in X demanded for CBI inquiry into the fake Encounter of 3 Tamils in the Karnataka forest and Rs 1 crore compensation each for the families!… He said “the three men who were killed were originally from Tamil Nadu. Around 100 years ago, when land was acquired for the construction of the Mettur Dam, they lost their homes and belongings and migrated to the Mariyamangalam area of Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka in search of a livelihood.
One of the netizens raises “Questions over the August 15 forest shootout in Karnataka that killed three men. A pair of brand-new Paragon slippers, reportedly with stickers intact, was among the items seized from the spot. Relatives and villagers question whether the slippers were actually worn by the deceased”.
Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar took a swipe at Tamil Nadu politicians including Chief Minister Vijay for demanding an independent probe into the deaths saying that no state should interfere with the administration of other states. He was reacting to the demand for a CBI probe into the incident from former TN CM O Panneerselvam. Shivakumar said “Be it Panneerselvam or anyone, they should have basic culture. It’s a federal structure and no state should interfere in the administration of other states. Every state has its own problem. They (Tamil Nadu politicians) should know this. I cannot involve myself in any way in Tamil Nadu’s law and order problems,”
Shivakumar said, “No state should interfere with another state’s administration. States have their own problems. They should also know that we know how to protect our state. Let them do their job; we’ll do our job. I don’t want to interfere with their administration. We have to protect the sanctity of our state. They should do their job; we should do our job.”.
Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated in the assembly that the firing was an act of retaliation because the alleged poachers who were hiding behind the rocks and bushes fired at the forest personnel with country-made pistols. When repeated warnings to surrender went in vain, police opened counter fire in self-defence and for wildlife preservation.
Taking his social media platform, the minister said “Federalism operates on mutual respect. Did Karnataka ever interfere or politicize when a tragic stampede claimed 41 lives during Tamil Nadu CM’ election rally in Karur? We respected state boundaries. The Hanur forest incident occurred inside Karnataka. Though Tamil-speaking, the deceased were residents of Karnataka. Karnataka has an active magisterial inquiry underway to establish the facts. We do not need unsolicited interference in our internal governance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed “approximately 20-30 kg of wildlife animal meat, identified as deer meat, contained in two bags were seized from the spot along with other items”.,
TN politicians have taken up this issue besides Cauvery water sharing with Karnataka and none of the senior congress leaders, like Rahul Gandhi commented on the killing or water release issues. Ironically, Congress is sharing power with TVK in Tamil Nadu.
