Bengaluru, August 17: The Karnataka government has confirmed that three poachers were killed in a retaliatory shooting by forest department personnel in the Chamrajnagar Reserve Forest. This incident occurred when the poachers opened fire, prompting the officials to act in self-defense. The information was disclosed in the assembly on Monday.
In response to questions from BJP leaders, Forest and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated that the poachers had entered the forest armed, intending to hunt wild animals. He emphasized that forest officials have the right to use weapons to protect themselves.
Reddy clarified, “There was no malicious intent behind the shooting, and the government is prepared to provide a detailed statement regarding the incident.”
On the night of August 14, around 8 PM, forest officials received reports of poachers armed with weapons entering the Shagya area of the Cauvery Wildlife Reserve. The department dispatched two teams in vehicles to conduct a search operation in the Hanur Forest Range.
By approximately 5 AM, the teams spotted torchlight in the forest and approached the area, located about five kilometers from the village boundary. In the Karadikallu area, the forest personnel discovered the poachers hiding behind large rocks and firing at them.
Reddy stated that when the forest personnel were shot at, they returned fire in the same direction. He noted that the poachers were positioned on higher ground and were continuously shooting at the officials.
The minister asserted that the personnel fired in self-defense. The bullets struck the poachers above the waist, indicating no ill intent from the forest officials.
Upon hearing the cries of the injured, the forest personnel rushed to the scene and found three individuals lying on the ground. They were immediately transported to Kollegal Hospital, but unfortunately, all three succumbed to their injuries. Their bodies were later sent to the mortuary in Mysuru.
The deceased poachers were identified as residents of different villages, while another alleged poacher who fled the scene was identified as Mahima Das. Reddy also mentioned that around ten forest personnel received treatment for injuries sustained during the encounter. A case has been registered concerning this incident.
Reddy stated that the three individuals had reportedly ventured approximately eight kilometers into the reserve forest. He dismissed claims from their families that they had entered the forest in search of livestock, asserting that no dead livestock were found in the area. The minister also pointed out that the poachers did not have permission to enter the reserve forest. During the operation, forest department staff recovered approximately 34.5 kilograms of suspected wild animal meat.
According to the minister, the operation began at around 8 PM on August 14 and continued until 5:30 AM on August 15. Meanwhile, opposition leader R. Ashok questioned the government’s statement regarding the incident and demanded accountability for the deaths.
Ashok remarked in the assembly, “People are questioning the government’s claims. Why were the deceased taken to a distant location?”
Families of the three individuals killed in the encounter with forest department personnel in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary have challenged the department’s assertion that they were habitual poachers. The families contend that the deceased were farmers and had entered the forest for reasons unrelated to hunting.
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