Chamarajanagar , Protests were held in Chamarajnagar and Mysuru on Sunday seeking justice for the three alleged poachers gunned down by Forest personnel in an alleged exchange of fire on August 15.
Tension prevailed in Hanur in Chamarajanagar district as villagers and family members of the three deceased persons, who were killed in the exchange of fire with forest personnel in the Datti forest area, staged a massive protest. The villagers demanded justice for the deceased, while TV visuals from the spot showed pushing and jostling between the protesters and police amid heavy security arrangements. The protesters demanded that the forest personnel who opened fire be brought to the spot and questioned, while police made efforts to control the situation and contain the growing anger among the families and villagers. “They should have shot them in the hand or leg, but instead, they shot them in the neck and killed all three. Bring the personnel who opened fire to the spot and take action against them,” the angry locals demanded. The autopsy of two bodies have been completed at the K R hospital. Protests were also held in Mysuru where the police personnel were seen trying to disperse the protesters in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
The Hanur Police have registered an FIR against forest officers involved in the alleged incident under sections Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, after a formal complaint was lodged by the wife of one of the deceased, officials said.
Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baldandi told PTI that the families of the deceased men have consented to the post-mortem examinations. Later, the situation was brought under control, officials said.
