Three Killed in Karnataka Forest Shootout Near Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
Three men were shot dead by forest department officials early Saturday morning near the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Hanur forest range. Southern Range Inspector General of Police M B Boralingaiah identified the deceased as Antony Swamy, John Rose Peter, and Kumar Sawariyappan, while a fourth man, Joseph Mahima Das, sustained minor injuries. Forest authorities stated that the group was suspected of poaching and opened fire on patrolling staff, prompting officers to retaliate in self-defence. Conversely, families of the victims refuted the poaching allegations and alleged the men were searching for missing cattle. Enraged villagers subsequently stormed the Shagya forest office in Hanur, damaging property and demanding an independent inquiry into the incident.
Why it matters
The incident has sparked public outrage and allegations of a staged encounter, impacting local community safety and relations between villagers and the forest department in Karnataka.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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