India
oi-Swastika Sruti
The shooting of three men who hailed from Tamil Nadu in a forest area of the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka state is causing controversy in Tamil Nadu.
Three Tamil men, Antony Sami, Johnrose Peter, and Kumar, were fatally shot in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district. The Karnataka Forest Department claims they were poaching deer, but families allege a fake encounter, prompting demands for a CBI investigation alongside Karnataka’s ordered magisterial inquiry.
According to reports, the Karnataka Forest Department has claimed that the men were allegedly engaged in poaching of deer and that they were shot during an exchange of gunfire with forest officers. However, according to the claims of the family members of the deceased, the men were not engaged in any poaching activity.
There are now calls for an independent probe into the matter, and PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss has called for a CBI inquiry.
Who Were The Three Men Killed?
The names of the three dead people are Antony Sami, Johnrose Peter, and Kumar.
These individuals were villagers from the villages near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu state boundary in the Chamarajanagar area.
As per the statement provided by the PMK, the family members of the dead people deny their being poachers. They also raise doubts about the Forest Department’s assertion that these three men possessed weapons and there was an exchange of gunfire between the forest officials and these three men.
The allegations are not yet proven.
Forest Department’s Poaching Claim Under Question
The shooting reportedly took place in a forest area adjoining the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district.
The Forest Department’s version is that the three men were allegedly hunting deer and were killed during a confrontation with forest personnel.
However, relatives and local residents have disputed this account.
They have questioned whether there was evidence that the men were hunting and whether an actual exchange of fire took place.
The conflicting versions have increased demands for an impartial investigation into what happened before the shooting.
PMK Calls It A ‘Fake Encounter’
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss strongly criticised the incident and described the shooting as an alleged fake encounter.
He demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the deaths rather than relying only on a departmental or local inquiry.
Ramadoss also urged the Tamil Nadu government to take up the issue with Karnataka and seek compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of the three deceased.
He said the allegations were serious enough to require an investigation that could independently establish whether the Forest Department’s account was correct.
Why Their Tamil Origin Has Become A Political Issue
The families of the deceased reportedly have a long connection with the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border region.
According to the account cited by the PMK, their families were among people who were displaced around a century ago when land was acquired for the Mettur Dam project in Tamil Nadu.
They subsequently moved towards the Mariyamangalam area of Karnataka in search of a livelihood.
Ramadoss said the men should not be viewed as outsiders simply because they were Tamil-speaking residents of Karnataka.
He argued that the historical displacement of these families is an important part of understanding the background of the community living in the border region.
Local Political Leaders Question Shooting
The incident has also drawn questions from political leaders in Karnataka.
Puttarangashetty, the Congress MLA from Chamarajanagar and district in-charge minister, and Manjunath, the JD(S) MLA from Hanur, have reportedly questioned the circumstances in which the shooting took place.
Questions have particularly been raised about the need for the confrontation and the events leading up to the deaths.
Human rights activists have also reportedly expressed concern over the incident.
Karnataka Orders Magistrate’s Inquiry
Amid the conflicting claims, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that a Magisterial inquiry has been ordered to establish what happened.
The inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances of the shooting and the claims made by the Forest Department and the families.
However, Ramadoss has argued that a CBI investigation is necessary because of the seriousness of the allegations.
The demand for an independent probe is likely to remain a key issue until the circumstances of the deaths are established.
TVK Leader Velmurugan Demands Action
Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi founder T. Velmurugan also condemned the deaths and called for action against anyone found responsible.
He urged the Tamil Nadu government to speak to the Karnataka government and seek a transparent investigation.
Velmurugan said the families should receive appropriate compensation and legal assistance if the allegations of wrongdoing are established.
He also stressed that disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including those related to the Cauvery, should not create an atmosphere in which people living along the border become victims.
