Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Condemns Chamarajanagar Shootout, Seeks Probe

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Aug. 16, 2026: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has condemned the killing of three Tamil men in an alleged encounter with Karnataka Forest Department personnel in Chamarajanagar district and demanded a thorough investigation.

The three men—Anthony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar, residents of villages in Hanur taluk—were shot dead in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area in the early hours of August 15, Vijay said in a social media post.

Describing the incident as “unacceptable,” Vijay called for a detailed probe and urged the Karnataka government to provide all necessary assistance to the victims’ families.

According to Karnataka authorities, forest personnel had received information about suspected poachers entering the sanctuary to hunt wildlife. Officials who reached the spot were allegedly fired upon, prompting retaliatory fire in which three suspected poachers were killed.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said forest personnel had seized guns, documents and two bags containing suspected wildlife meat from the spot, while one person reportedly escaped.

Shivakumar said he had ordered a magistrate-level inquiry into the incident and directed officials to take appropriate action based on its findings. He also said compensation would be provided to the victims’ families, with the amount yet to be finalised.

Postmortem examinations of the deceased are underway.