Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Sunday condemned the killing of three Tamil men by Karnataka Forest Division personnel within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, calling it a “bloodbath” and demanding a high-level inquiry.
The three males have been killed early on August 15 in an alleged change of fireplace over suspected poaching. The Forest Division claimed that its personnel retaliated after the boys opened fireplace, a model questioned by the victims’ households and political events in Tamil Nadu.
“It’s heartbreaking that Anthony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar, who have been Tamils residing in villages in Hanur taluk, have been shot useless by Karnataka Forest Division officers within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. I strongly condemn this bloodbath,” Vijay mentioned.
The Chief Minister rejected the Forest Division’s account and demanded an neutral investigation.
“The reason supplied by the Karnataka Forest Division is unacceptable. An sincere investigation have to be carried out into this brutal incident,” he mentioned.
CM Vijay urged the Karnataka authorities to represent a high-level committee, punish these discovered accountable and supply all needed help to the victims’ households.
He additionally referred to as on the neighbouring state to take steps to stop a recurrence of such an incident.
TAMIL NADU PARTIES QUESTION KARNATAKA’S VERSION
CM Vijay’s intervention added to the political reactions in Tamil Nadu, the place the DMK and PMK have additionally condemned the deaths and questioned the declare that the three males have been poachers.
DMK president MK Stalin described the incident as “deeply stunning” and accused the Karnataka Forest Division of performing with disregard for human life.
“The tragic capturing of three Tamil individuals by the Karnataka Forest Division within the state’s forest space is deeply stunning,” Stalin mentioned in a press release.
“This brutal act, carried out with utter disregard for human life, deserves the strongest condemnation,” he added.
The reactions have added a cross-border dimension to the controversy, with Tamil Nadu’s political events demanding accountability from the Karnataka authorities.
DK SHIVAKUMAR ORDERS MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar mentioned he had ordered a magisterial inquiry to find out the circumstances resulting in the firing, together with which aspect opened fireplace and whether or not the forest personnel acted in self-defence.
Shivakumar mentioned Forest Division officers had briefed him and supplied paperwork associated to the incident.
“We can not disclose each element to everybody. I acquired details about the info of the matter solely this morning. Forest Division officers gave me full first-hand info,” he mentioned.
The Karnataka Chief Minister additionally assured the victims’ households of compensation. He mentioned Animal Husbandry and Sericulture Minister Puttaranga Shetty and native MLA Manjunath had additionally approached him over the matter.
“I’ve requested them to submit a report on the compensation that may be supplied. I’ll actually present some compensation,” Shivakumar mentioned.
BJP DEMANDS JUDICIAL PROBE
Karnataka Chief of Opposition R Ashoka rejected the magisterial inquiry as insufficient and demanded a judicial probe.
Ashoka questioned how an inquiry carried out by authorities officers may pretty study allegations in opposition to different officers.
“If officers examine officers, the inquiry is definite to go astray. Thus far, all such inquiries have gone in favour of officers. Solely a judicial inquiry can deliver out the reality,” the BJP chief mentioned.
He demanded that the forest personnel concerned be relieved of their duties till the investigation was accomplished and questioned whether or not deadly power had been needed.
Ashoka additionally criticised Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy for not visiting the positioning or assembly the protesters.
He claimed that the Forest Division had neither disclosed the kind of firearms allegedly carried by the boys nor conclusively established that they possessed wild animal meat.
WHAT HAPPENED IN CAUVERY SANCTUARY?
The capturing befell early on Saturday in a dense forest space of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Appearing on details about suspected poaching, forest personnel encountered 4 males.
In accordance with the Forest Division, the boys opened fireplace at its personnel, prompting retaliatory firing. Three males have been killed, whereas a fourth escaped.
Shivakumar mentioned officers recovered firearms and two baggage containing meat, together with that of untamed animals. The circumstances surrounding the encounter stay underneath investigation.
The deaths triggered protests in Chamarajanagar and Mysuru. In Hanur, villagers and family of the deceased blocked the street resulting in Male Mahadeshwara Betta and demanded motion in opposition to the forest personnel.
The households sought compensation and the arrest of the officers concerned. The protest was withdrawn after the native MLA assured them that compensation can be supplied.
Hanur Police registered an FIR in opposition to the forest officers underneath Part 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which offers with punishment for homicide, following a grievance from the spouse of one of many deceased.
The our bodies have been taken to KR Hospital in Mysuru for autopsy examinations. Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem and inquiry experiences earlier than deciding on additional motion.
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