Magisterial inquiry report into Hanur firing incident will be submitted on August 22: Ramalinga Reddy

Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced on Thursday that the magisterial inquiry report into the shooting incident at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur, Chamarajanagar district will be submitted on August 22. This inquiry is being conducted following the deaths of three suspected poachers during an alleged exchange of fire with Forest Department personnel on August 15.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has mandated a thorough investigation into the Hanur shootout case, and the report is expected to be submitted by August 22. Reddy stated that if any lapses are found in the report, appropriate action will be taken. Additionally, villagers reportedly ransacked and set fire to eight anti-poaching camps, along with damaging vehicles, following the alleged exchange of fire.

A police complaint has been filed against those responsible for damaging Forest Department property. The Minister also inquired whether gelatin sticks were used to blow up the camps. Three suspected poachers were killed during the incident: Antony Swamy, 50, from Mari Mangala village; John Rose Peter, 42, from Jagannatha Doddi village; and Kumar, 33, from Laasa Doddi village.

Another suspect, Mahimadan, 45, also from Mari Mangala village, survived and was later found in a private hospital in Mysuru. In response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's condemnation of the killings, Reddy emphasized that irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds, if the poachers were innocent, they would receive justice; however, if they had engaged in poaching and killed wildlife, legal action would be taken against those found guilty.