District Minister B Ramanatha Rai promised to consult the Chief Minister and Home Minister about setting up a high-level inquiry into the Sringeri shooting case and offering maximum compensation to victim Kabeer’s family.
At the DCC office Rai told reporters on Monday that in a case of mistaken identity the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) personnel shot Kabeer dead at Thanikodu forest check-post in Sringeri. Due to suspicions over the incident the government has already handed over the case to the CID, he said.
“However, I will consult Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George on setting up a high-level inquiry to provide justice to the victim’s family members,” he said.
The government has already declared Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim’s family, he said. “But I will strive to provide more compensation to them,” Rai added.
When asked why the Police Department had not taken any action against miscreants who attacked the victim’s family members when they reached Sringeri to collect the corpse, Rai said if police were found guilty, action would be taken against them.
Rai refused to respond to queries on why the victim and others were in Sringeri.
“As investigation is under progress, I do not want to comment. A proper investigation will shed light on all these issues and justice will be done,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary, on Monday demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI.