Chikkamagaluru: A 26-year-old man died after being accidentally shot during an alleged hunting trip in Kademane village of Koppa taluk on Thursday night. The deceased has been identified as Chetan Kademane, a resident of the same village.
According to preliminary reports, Chetan had gone into a forest area with a group of friends for hunting when a gunshot was fired. The bullet reportedly struck him in the abdomen, leaving him seriously injured.
His companions rushed him towards a hospital in Jayapura, but he died on the way. Police have taken some of the men who accompanied him into custody for questioning, while others are reportedly untraceable. A police investigation is under way to establish how the gun was fired and who was responsible.
Gunshot during alleged hunting trip
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday night in the forest-fringe area of Kademane, which falls under the Balehonnur police station limits in Chikkamagaluru district.
Reports state that Chetan and his friends had gone into the forest around 7 pm. During the alleged hunting activity, one of the men reportedly fired at an animal.
The bullet is suspected to have missed its intended target and struck Chetan in the abdomen. The exact circumstances surrounding the firing, however, are yet to be established by investigators.
The incident has raised questions about the circumstances under which the firearm was being used and whether the group had the necessary permission to enter the forest for hunting.
Police are investigating the source of the firearm, who handled it and the sequence of events leading to the shooting.
Chetan dies while being taken to hospital
After Chetan sustained the gunshot injury, his companions reportedly took him towards a hospital in Jayapura.
Despite their efforts to get medical attention quickly, he succumbed to his injuries while being transported.
The body was subsequently taken for the required medico-legal procedures as part of the investigation.
The fatal injury to the abdomen is reported to have been caused by the bullet, but investigators will have to establish the precise nature and trajectory of the firing through their inquiry.
Police question companions
Police have taken three people who reportedly accompanied Chetan into custody for questioning.
Other members of the group are reportedly untraceable and efforts are under way to locate them.
Reports differ on the number of people who went on the hunting trip. The initial report from Mangalore Today said Chetan had gone with five friends, while other reports said the group consisted of seven people.
The discrepancy is yet to be clarified officially.
The questioning of those who were present is expected to help police establish who possessed the firearm, who fired it and what happened immediately before and after the shooting.
Investigation focuses on firearm and hunting activity
The police investigation is expected to examine several aspects of the incident.
These include the ownership and source of the firearm, whether it was legally held, who fired the shot and whether the group had entered the forest for hunting.
Investigators will also examine whether any wildlife was being targeted and whether forest and wildlife laws were violated.
As the incident reportedly took place during an alleged hunting expedition, authorities may also examine the circumstances under which the group entered the forest area.
At this stage, the available reports do not establish that Chetan was intentionally targeted. The incident has been described as an accidental shooting, but the exact sequence remains under investigation.
Earlier poaching cases raise wildlife concerns
The incident comes amid increased attention on alleged wildlife hunting in parts of central Karnataka.
In September, forest officials in Chikkamagaluru district arrested three alleged poachers near MC Halli in the Tarikere area and seized around 70 kg of deer meat, along with a country-made gun and other hunting equipment. Four others were reportedly being sought in that case.
That case involved alleged deer poaching and was separate from the latest shooting incident.
The repeated reports of hunting activity have brought attention to the challenges faced by forest officials in monitoring forest areas adjoining villages.
However, no connection between the earlier poaching case and the death of Chetan has been established.
Forest-fringe villages face wildlife pressures
Koppa and surrounding areas of Chikkamagaluru have extensive forested and plantation landscapes, with several villages located close to forest boundaries.
Such areas can present challenges for both wildlife protection and law enforcement, particularly when people enter forest areas at night.
The latest incident highlights the risks associated with firearms being handled in darkness and in circumstances where the target may not be clearly visible.
While the investigation will determine the circumstances of the shooting, the death has also drawn attention to the dangers associated with unauthorised hunting and unsafe firearm use.
Police to establish sequence of events
Investigators are expected to question the people who were present during the incident and examine the firearm involved.
The investigation will also seek to establish whether the shooting was genuinely accidental, who fired the weapon and whether any offence was committed in connection with the hunting activity.
Statements from the detained individuals, forensic examination and other evidence will be important in reconstructing the sequence of events.
The case remains under investigation, and further details are expected as police establish the circumstances surrounding Chetan’s death.
Conclusion
A 26-year-old man, identified as Chetan Kademane, died after being shot during an alleged hunting trip in Kademane village of Chikkamagaluru’s Koppa taluk. His companions reportedly rushed him towards a hospital, but he died on the way. Police have detained some of those who accompanied him and are investigating the firearm, the shooting and the alleged hunting activity.