Christian Community Appeals for Judicial Enquiry into Hanur Forest Shooting Deaths
Bengaluru: Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, has appealed to the Karnataka Government to institute an independent judicial enquiry headed by a sitting judge into the deaths of three persons who were allegedly shot by Forest Department personnel in the Chikkallur Reserved Forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Division in Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district.
The Archbishop made the appeal on behalf of the Christian community, seeking an impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts, determine accountability and ensure justice for the families of the deceased.
The three deceased have been identified as Antony Swamy (50), John Rose Peter (42) and Anthony Kumar (33), all residents of Hanur taluk. They were allegedly shot by Forest Department personnel in the early hours of Sunday.
The Christian community expressed deep shock and anguish over the incident and conveyed its condolences and prayers to the bereaved families.
While stating that trespassing, poaching, hunting or any other unlawful activity in protected forest areas cannot be condoned, the community stressed that such allegations alone cannot justify the use of lethal force. It said any use of firearms by law-enforcement or Forest Department personnel must be strictly necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law.
Serious questions have also been raised over the circumstances leading to the deaths, including whether the Forest Department personnel faced an immediate and credible threat to their lives and whether the use of lethal force was unavoidable. The community said these issues should be determined through an independent investigation rather than through assumptions or competing claims.
Concern was also expressed over the FIR registered by Hanur Police based on a complaint filed by Lourde Mary, wife of deceased Antony. According to the statement, a murder case has been registered, but no individual Forest Department personnel have reportedly been named as accused.
The Christian community said the circumstances warranted a comprehensive examination of the actions of all personnel involved in the incident.
The Archbishop further appealed to the state government to provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and offer employment to an eligible member of each bereaved family as immediate humanitarian assistance.