Hanur shoot-out: Withdrawal of protest paves way for post-mortem

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Relatives of deceased in the alleged shoot-out and locals staging a demonstration at Hanur in Chamarajanagar district on Saturday seeking action against the forest department personnel. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The post-mortem of the three suspected poachers killed in an alleged exchange of fire in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk was taken up at the mortuary of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) in Mysuru on Sunday, only after the protest by relatives and villagers was withdrawn.

After hours of protest by family members, relatives and members of various organisations — both in Hanur and outside the mortuary in Mysuru — Dean of MMC&RI Dr. Dakshayani confirmed to The Hindu that the post-mortem had been completed and all three bodies handed over to their respective families.

A large number of people gathered at the mortuary in Mysuru after the bodies of Antony Swamy, 50, of Mari Mangala village; John Rose Peter, 42, of Jagannatha Doddi village; and Kumar, 33, of Laasa Doddi village — all killed in Saturday’s shoot-out — were brought there for post-mortem.

The family members had refused to give their consent for the autopsy until they received a written assurance of compensation and punitive action against the officials involved.

Meanwhile, the protest in Hanur, which began on Saturday, intensified on Sunday as several organisations joined the demonstration and attempted to block the road to Malai Mahadeshwara Hills, demanding action against the Forest Department personnel involved in the shooting.

Amid the prevailing tension, Hanur MLA Manjunath held discussions with the families of the deceased and eventually persuaded the protesters to withdraw the agitation.

In addition to the ₹5 lakh compensation for each of the three deceased families, the MLA assured an additional ₹10 lakh each from his personal funds.

Before calling off the agitation, the protesters in Hanur had demanded a government job for one member of each deceased family, dismissal and stringent punishment for the Forest Department personnel involved in the shooting, and government support for the education of the children of the affected families.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at Bhagamandala in Kodagu on Sunday, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he had been informed by Forest Department officials that guns and two bags containing the meat of wild animals had been recovered from the persons killed in the exchange of fire.

Referring to the request made by Minister Puttarangashetty and Hanur MLA Manjunath for compensation to the families of the deceased, Mr. Shivakumar said he had sought a report on the matter and assured that suitable compensation would be provided.

He said a magisterial inquiry had already been ordered into the incident.