Shivakumar Hits Back at Tamil Nadu Over Hanur
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has rejected criticism from Tamil Nadu political leaders over the killing of three Tamil-origin men during a forest department operation in Chamarajanagar district, saying states should not interfere in each other’s administration. The August 15 incident in Hanur taluk has triggered fresh political friction between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Shivakumar Responds to Tamil Nadu Leaders
Shivakumar said India operates under a federal structure and argued that every state should handle its own administrative and law-and-order matters.
Responding to criticism from Tamil Nadu leaders, he said Karnataka was capable of protecting its interests and handling the investigation into the incident.
His remarks followed demands from Tamil Nadu politicians for a high-level and transparent investigation into the deaths.
Karnataka Defends Hanur Forest Firing
Three men were killed during an anti-poaching operation inside the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on August 15.
Karnataka authorities allege that the men had entered the protected forest carrying firearms, ammunition, knives and other equipment allegedly intended for hunting wild animals.
Forest officials maintain that personnel opened fire in self-defence after coming under attack. The families of the deceased and some Tamil Nadu political leaders have disputed the poaching allegations and questioned the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Magisterial Inquiry Probes Hanur Killings
Karnataka has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the shooting, with investigators examining the forest department’s version of events and the evidence connected to the encounter.
The controversy has added another point of tension between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which already have long-running disputes over issues such as Cauvery water sharing and the Mekedatu project.
