Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has pushed back against demands from Tamil Nadu political leaders for a CBI probe into the killing of three Tamil-origin men in Chamarajanagar, saying no state should interfere in the administration of another. Shivakumar said Karnataka would protect the “sanctity” of the state while allowing the ongoing investigation into the August 15 forest shooting to establish the facts.
The three men — Anthony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar — were shot dead in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area of Chamarajanagar district during what Karnataka officials described as an anti-poaching operation. A fourth man, Mahima Das, reportedly escaped and was later treated for injuries at a hospital in Mysuru.
Shivakumar tells Tamil Nadu leaders not to interfere
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Shivakumar said states should respect each other’s administrative jurisdiction.
“No state should interfere with another state’s administration,” he said, adding that Karnataka knows how to protect its territory and would conduct its own investigation.
His comments came after political leaders in Tamil Nadu, including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, demanded a high-level or CBI investigation into the deaths.
Shivakumar maintained that the circumstances surrounding the shooting would become clear only after the investigation was completed.
Three men killed during anti-poaching operation
The incident occurred in the Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district in the early hours of August 15.
According to the Karnataka Forest Department’s account, forest personnel were conducting an anti-poaching operation when they encountered a group suspected of entering the protected forest to hunt.
Officials have claimed that the group was carrying a country-made firearm and deer meat. They said forest personnel opened fire after the suspected poachers allegedly pointed a gun at them.
The three men died in the firing.
Their bodies were initially taken to the mortuary of Kollegal Government Hospital, while police deployed security around the facility amid growing tensions over the incident.
Families dispute poaching allegations
The official version has been strongly challenged by the families of the deceased and sections of Tamil Nadu’s political leadership.
They have maintained that the three men were farmers, not poachers, and that they had entered the forest area while searching for missing cattle.
The survivor, Mahima Das, has also disputed aspects of the forest department’s account.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay called the incident deeply disturbing and described the explanation offered by Karnataka authorities as unacceptable. He demanded a fair and impartial investigation and action against anyone found responsible.
The competing versions have turned the shooting into a politically sensitive issue between the neighbouring states.
Tamil Nadu Assembly seeks CBI investigation
The demand for an independent probe has gathered momentum in Tamil Nadu.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami moved a motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking a CBI investigation into the deaths.
Other political parties and leaders have also demanded an impartial inquiry. The demands include a judicial investigation, compensation for the victims’ families and action against officials if wrongdoing is established.
Palaniswami said the incident required an independent investigation because it occurred in a border region and there were conflicting accounts of what happened.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has also sought a CBI probe and demanded ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family.
Karnataka has ordered a magisterial inquiry
The Karnataka government has already ordered an investigation into the incident.
A magistrate-led inquiry was ordered by the Chamarajanagar district administration to establish what happened during the encounter.
Officials have said witnesses have been questioned and evidence, including weapons and other items recovered from the scene, has been collected.
Shivakumar said the government would wait for the findings of the investigation before drawing conclusions about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The investigation is expected to examine the claims made by forest personnel as well as allegations raised by the victims’ families.
FIR registered against forest personnel
The controversy intensified after an FIR was registered against forest officials involved in the shooting.
The complaint was filed at Hanur Police Station by the wife of one of the deceased. The case was registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with punishment for murder.
An Executive Magistrate inquiry is also underway.
The parallel proceedings mean the allegations against the forest personnel will be examined while the government’s magisterial inquiry attempts to establish the sequence of events.
Tamil Nadu government calls Karnataka’s explanation unacceptable
Tamil Nadu Law Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar told the Assembly that the state’s government did not find Karnataka’s explanation satisfactory.
He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay had strongly condemned the incident and that Karnataka should conduct a proper investigation.
The Karnataka government has provided ₹5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, but Tamil Nadu political leaders have demanded substantially higher compensation.
Some leaders have also called for government employment to be provided to a family member of each victim.
Political tension grows between the two states
The shooting has introduced another sensitive issue into Karnataka-Tamil Nadu relations.
The two states have frequently faced political disagreements over issues including the Cauvery river water dispute and the Mekedatu project.
The latest controversy is particularly sensitive because the deaths involved Tamil-origin residents and occurred in Karnataka’s forest territory.
Shivakumar’s warning against interference reflects the Karnataka government’s position that the incident is an internal law-and-order and administrative matter that should be investigated by the state.
Tamil Nadu leaders, however, argue that the disputed circumstances and the identities of the victims justify an independent investigation.
BJP also demands answers from Karnataka government
The issue has also drawn criticism from the Karnataka Opposition.
Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka demanded a statement from the state government, saying the matter had gone beyond the state’s borders following the reaction from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
The BJP has questioned the government’s handling of the controversy and sought greater clarity about the circumstances of the shooting.
This has put additional political pressure on the Karnataka government to ensure that the investigation is seen as transparent.
Different accounts of the shooting
One of the biggest challenges for investigators is the sharp difference between the accounts of the forest department and the victims’ families.
Forest officials’ version: The men were suspected poachers who entered the protected area with a firearm and deer meat, and personnel fired after allegedly coming under threat.
Families’ version: The men were farmers who had gone into the forest in search of cattle and were wrongly accused of poaching.
With both sides presenting conflicting accounts, investigators will have to establish what happened immediately before the firing, whether the men were armed, and whether the use of force was justified.
Probe will determine next course of action
The magisterial inquiry is now central to the controversy.
Investigators are expected to examine evidence from the site, statements from forest personnel, witnesses and the surviving man, along with the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The findings could determine whether further criminal action is warranted against any officials.
For now, the Karnataka government has resisted the demand for a CBI probe and has maintained that the state-level investigation should be allowed to proceed.
Conclusion
The killing of three Tamil-origin men in Chamarajanagar’s Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary has triggered a political dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with competing claims over whether the victims were poachers or farmers. Karnataka authorities have maintained that the men were killed during an anti-poaching operation after forest personnel allegedly came under threat. The families and several Tamil Nadu leaders dispute this account.
With Tamil Nadu parties demanding a CBI or judicial inquiry, Karnataka has instead backed its own magisterial investigation. Shivakumar has now warned Tamil Nadu leaders against interfering in Karnataka’s administration, saying the state will protect its “sanctity” and allow its investigation to establish the facts.
The FIR against forest personnel, the ongoing magisterial inquiry and the conflicting accounts mean the incident is likely to remain under close scrutiny. The findings of the investigation will be crucial in determining whether the shooting was a legitimate anti-poaching operation or whether further action against the forest officials is warranted.