Bengaluru, The Karnataka State Range Forest Officers’ Association has defended the forest personnel involved in the August 15 firing in Chamarajanagar district in which three suspected poachers were killed, saying the officials had opened fire only in self-defence and to protect wildlife.
The forest officers’ body also pointed out that forest personnel had lost their lives while protecting forests and wildlife during several such operations, and that unavoidable incidents had occurred in some instances in order to save their own lives. The statement comes amid continuing controversy over the incident in the Hanur Wildlife Range of the Cauvery Wildlife Division, with the deaths of the Tamil-origin men triggering outrage, especially in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay condemned the killings and sought an investigation, while political leaders in the state have demanded a probe into the incident. “Forest department officers and staff work 24×7 in shifts to protect forests and wildlife. It strongly condemned the registration of a police case against forest department officials and alleged that relatives of the deceased had continuously attacked forest personnel and forest department properties.
In the said operation, they opened fire only in self-defence and in the interest of protecting forests and wildlife, and had no other intention,” it said, adding that the deaths were regrettable. It said such pressure undermined the morale of forest officers and staff and made it difficult for them to discharge their duties. “In such circumstances, the association believes that it would be appropriate to take necessary action only after a proper investigation into the incident,” it said.
