Probe Demanded After 3 Tamils Shot Dead in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Leaders in Chennai have condemned the fatal shooting of three Tamil men by the Karnataka forest department in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

The three deceased individuals—identified as Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter, and Kumar—resided in villages across Hanur Taluk in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 15 in the dense forest area under the Shagya range of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

According to officials, forest personnel encountered four men while acting on information regarding suspected poaching activity. While three of the men were shot dead, one person escaped.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay strongly condemned the incident in a social media post, describing the explanation provided by the Karnataka forest department as unacceptable. He called for a high-level committee to conduct a fair investigation, demanding punishment for the wrongdoers and compensation from the neighbouring state for the victims' families.

DMK president M K Stalin also expressed shock over the deaths, terming the firing a brutal and inhuman act and urging the Tamil Nadu government to take a firm stand.

Following a formal complaint lodged by the wife of one of the deceased, the Hanur Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the involved forest officials under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with punishment for murder.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar reiterated that a magistrate-level inquiry has been ordered into the circumstances surrounding the firing, including whether the forest personnel fired in self-defence or if shots were exchanged. He also assured that the government would provide compensation to the affected families.