Mangaluru: The Catholic Sabha of the Mangalore diocese, along with a Christian delegation led by Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza, has urged the Karnataka government to conduct a proper and impartial Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the deaths of three persons in an alleged forest department firing in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
The delegation met Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy and expressed concern over the incident reported from Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. According to the delegation, forest officials allegedly opened fire, resulting in the deaths of three persons.
The delegation sought a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and urged the government to take appropriate action against those found responsible.
Delegation seeks impartial investigation
During the meeting with the Forest Minister, the delegation called for an independent and impartial SIT inquiry into the incident.
The representatives said a detailed investigation was necessary to establish the facts and determine the circumstances that led to the deaths. They urged the government to ensure that the inquiry is conducted fairly and that responsibility is fixed based on the findings.
The delegation’s appeal comes amid concern over the alleged use of force by forest officials in the wildlife sanctuary. The representatives stressed the need for transparency in the investigation and appropriate action if any wrongdoing is established.
Compensation sought for families
Apart from demanding an investigation, the delegation also appealed to the government to provide suitable compensation to the families of the deceased.
According to the delegation, the victims belonged to economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It urged the government to extend financial assistance to the bereaved families to help them cope with the loss.
The representatives maintained that support for the affected families was necessary, particularly given their economic circumstances and the loss of family members in the incident.
Christian delegation meets Forest Minister
The delegation was led by Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza and included representatives of the Catholic Sabha and the Christian community.
Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh president Santhosh D’Souza, political convenor Stany Lobo, vice-president Steven Rodrigues and Alphons Fernandes were part of the delegation.
The representatives placed their concerns before Ramalinga Reddy and sought government intervention in the matter.
The delegation’s demands included an impartial SIT inquiry, appropriate action against those responsible based on the investigation and compensation for the families of the deceased.
Call for accountability
The delegation stressed the importance of establishing accountability in the wake of the incident. It urged the government to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the alleged firing are examined thoroughly rather than allowing unanswered questions to remain.
An impartial investigation would be expected to examine the sequence of events, the circumstances in which the firing allegedly took place and the actions of the officials involved.
The demand for an SIT inquiry also reflects the delegation’s call for a transparent process that can establish the facts and provide clarity to the families of the deceased and the wider public.
The government is now expected to consider the concerns raised by the delegation and take appropriate steps in accordance with the findings of any inquiry.