Karnataka Hanur Shootout Dk Shivakumar Cbi Probe Tamil Nadu

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday reacted to Tamil Nadu leaders’ demands for a CBI probe into the Hanur shootout case, where three suspected poachers were allegedly shot dead by forest department officials in Chamarajanagar district, saying one state must not interfere in another state’s affairs.

“This is a federal structure. No state should interfere with any state’s administration,” Shivakumar said.

The Hanur shootout attracted condemnation in Tamil Nadu due to the Tamil origins of the victims. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay sought a high-level probe into the incident.

“I can’t involve (myself) in any Tamil Nadu law and order problem. (In the same way, leaders from) each state should look at their own problems. Let them do their job. We will do ours,” Shivakumar said, adding that leaders such as former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam and others “should have the basic culture”.

Three suspected poachers—Antony Swamy, 50, Jone Rose Peter, 42, and Kumar Sawariyappan, 35—were killed and Joseph Das, 44, was injured in a shootout that took place inside Hanur Forest Range early on August 15. This triggered a massive protest at Hanur town by the relatives of the victims.

During a discussion on the issue at the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday, the Opposition BJP demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

The Karnataka government had defended the forest officials involved in the shooting, saying that the alleged poachers refused to surrender and, in turn, attacked the officials.