An angry mob of over 2,000 people attacked a border checkpost & a forest officer’s building
The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu border near Palar in Chamarajanagar district saw violent protests on Friday after the missing poacher’s body was found in a discomposed state near Cauvery bank under mysterious circumstances.
The unruly mob of over 2,000 people from three surrounding villages backed by few Tamil outfits has attacked Palar checkpost and Gopinatham range forest officer’s building. The protesting villagers have reportedly stolen four firearms, a water tanker, pair of elephant tusks weighing 20 kilos, few laptops from RFO’s office and also set ablaze a two-wheeler.
The local villagers claimed that the deceased Palani, 42, a native of Govindapadi village near Mettur, was not a notorious poacher as claimed by Karnataka forest officials. They also allege that Palani was caught by Karnataka forest staff and was “inhumanely” tortured. “Palani body has several external injuries and a deep wound on his head. His left hand is chopped-off and the private organ is also missing pointing towards torture,” an angry protester from Govindapaddi village near Mettur from where Palani hails from said.
The government on Friday ordered a departmental inquiry under a chief conservator of forest ranked officer and report is expected in the next 48 hours. Additional chief secretary for forest, environment and ecology Madan Gopal said that the inquiry will hear claims from both forest and villagers of the deceased person. “This is not a issue between two states. And we shall not allow it to take such shape. This is incident on the forest border and it will be thoroughly inquired,” he said.
The incident came to light after Palani was reported missing by his wife on Thursday in Mettur police station.
Mr Vasanth Reddy, DCF, Cauvery Wildlife Division, rubbished protesters’ claims and said Palani, along with two others, Raju and Muthuswamy, have entered Karnataka forests and poached two Sambar deer.