Karnataka CID probe puts forest dept in the dock over killing of three ‘poachers’

A CID investigation into the killing of three men accused of poaching in Karnataka's Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary has raised questions about the actions of forest officials. The victims, Anthony Swamy, John Rose Peter and Sebastian David Kumar, were found with gunshot wounds consistent with close-range shots. The crime scene video did not show a weapon allegedly found with the victims, and the bodies were removed from the scene without preserving it.

The CID has cited these findings and others in a plea to the Karnataka High Court for the cancellation of bail granted to the three forest officials involved. The officials - Shivaraja Sasalavada, Shivalinga Nayaka and Girisha R - were accused of opening fire on the suspects, who claimed they were searching for lost cattle. The forest department originally claimed the men were poachers who opened fire first, leading to retaliatory shooting.