CHENNAI: PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has demanded a CBI probe into the deaths of three Tamil Nadu-origin men in a firing incident near the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district.
The deceased have been identified as Antonysamy, John Rose Peter and Kumar. According to the Karnataka Forest Department, the three were killed during an exchange of fire after allegedly entering the forest for deer hunting.
However, the families have disputed the forest department’s version, alleging that the deaths were presented as an encounter. Anbumani questioned whether there was sufficient evidence to establish that a shootout had actually taken place.
He said the deceased belonged to Tamil families who had lost their land during the construction of the Mettur dam and later settled in Karnataka.
Anbumani also questioned the effectiveness of the magisterial inquiry ordered by Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and urged the Tamil Nadu government to press Karnataka for a CBI investigation. He demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families.
Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar alleged that forest personnel were responsible for the deaths and demanded that a murder case be registered against them and the accused officials arrested.
Ravikumar also sought ₹1 crore compensation for each family, a government job for one family member and an independent high-level probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
