Published Aug 16, 2026 | 12:12 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 16, 2026 | 12:13 PM
The forest officials came across the group of men at 5 AM on August 15, during a routine patrol.(Wikimedia)
Hanur police have registered an FIR against forest officials after three men were killed in firing near Mariya Mangala in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on August 15.
The FIR has been registered based on the complaint of the wife of one of the deceased.
Lourdu Mary, wife of Anthony Swamy (50), in her complaint alleged that her husband, along with three other men, had entered the forest area to search for their missing cattle when the forest officials opened fire. Swamy and two other men -Sebastian David Kumar (35) and John Rose Peter (43)- were killed in the firing, while a fourth man, Mahim Das, escaped.
Based on the complaint, the Hanur police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The FIR has also been sent to the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) and the JMFC Court in Kollegala.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, after forest officials alleged that the men were suspected poachers and carried unlicensed guns.
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The forest officials have alleged that the men were suspected poachers and were found with unlicensed guns and deer meat. They said the men had opened fire on them prompting retaliation which resulted in the deaths. One forest official was reportedly injured during the incident.
According to Minister Ramalinga Reddy, the forest officials came across the group of men at 5 AM on August 15, during a routine patrol. They were allegedly carrying four bags of deer meat and an unlicensed gun. The forest teams encountered the men on the LA Mada D-line route in the reserve forest under the Hanur taluk.
The minister said that the forest officials had claimed that they opened fire in fear for their lives after the men shot at them. However, he stressed that the government will conclude the matter only according to the findings of the magisterial probe.
“After an inquiry, the actual position will be known. After that, we will take necessary action,” he said, adding that action will be taken against the forest officials if they are found to have done any mistakes.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
