Now Reading: DMK demands Tamil Nadu govt action on killing of 3 Tamils in Karnataka
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DMK demands Tamil Nadu govt action on killing of 3 Tamils in Karnataka
The DMK on Tuesday asked the Tamil Nadu government to explain what steps it has taken to secure justice for three Tamil men killed by the Karnataka Forest Department. Leader of Opposition…
The DMK on Tuesday asked the Tamil Nadu government to explain what steps it has taken to secure justice for three Tamil men killed by the Karnataka Forest Department. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin told the Assembly that the post-mortem reports of Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter and Kumar showed they were tortured and shot at close range.
Stalin asked whether Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had raised the issue at the Southern Zonal Council meeting or conveyed Tamil Nadu's condemnation to Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. He demanded a high-level inquiry and legal assistance for the families. Speaker J C D Prabhakar said the Law Minister would give a detailed reply soon, after a minister had already responded when the issue was raised on August 18.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Karnataka Forest Department's powers to shoot poachers stem from the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which allows lethal force against armed trespassers in notified sanctuaries. The key question is whether the three men were poaching as alleged, or were locals collecting minor forest produce. A parallel exists in the 2021 Kolar shooting of two suspected buffalo hunters by Karnataka forest staff, where a magisterial inquiry absolved the department. That precedent could shape Tamil Nadu's demand for a CBI or high-level enquiry, since state governments rarely cede jurisdiction. The Southern Zonal Council, chaired by the Union Home Minister, has no mandate to intervene in inter-state law enforcement disputes. The practical outcome hinges on the post-mortem findings, specifically the range and angle of entry of the gunshot wounds, which determine whether the killing was in self-defence or custodial violence.
Source: thefederal.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
