BENGALURU: The state government ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inquiry into the shooting case at the Hanur division of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), in which three suspected poachers were killed by forest officials on August 14. The government issued the orders on Monday.
Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday said, “After discussing with the chief minister and home minister, it was decided to hand over the case to the CID for investigation. The forest department, however, will continue to investigate the aspect pertaining to the wildlife offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.”
Following the orders, Director General and Inspector General of Police MA Saleem directed the Chamarajanagar superintendent of police to send the investigating officer to personally hand over all the case files to the CID investigating officer. Saleem told the Director General of Police, CID Special Units and Economic Offences, to make arrangements to take up further investigation. “Once the investigation is over, the detailed report be sent to the DG&IGP office,” Saleem stated in the order.
The cases filed at Ramapura, Hanur and Kollegal police stations on the use of weapons and damage to forest department property will be investigated by the CID.
‘Safety of forest officials is key’
“The CID teams started work from Tuesday. The judicial inquiry is different from the CID investigation. Also, the postmortem report has confirmed that the foresters had fired from a close range. The matter needs a detailed investigation,” Saleem said.
Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh said that the Chamarajanagar deputy commissioner will hand over the judicial report on Thursday and it will be submitted to the government for decision taking.
Forest officials at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary said their staff strength is lesser now as 14 employees, who were working on the day of the incident and are on leave, have not returned to work.
The police have been deployed inside the forest where forest offices, anti-poaching camps and checkposts are located. A senior forester said, “The 14 staffers, including watchers, guards and drivers who were present at the time of shooting have not returned to work. Those working here fear for their lives. It does not matter who is probing the incident. Safety of foresters and the trust of the government is important for forest protection.”