Karnataka forest encounter: Four cases transferred to CID for probe
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police on Tuesday transferred four cases registered at Ramapura, Hanur, and Kollegala Rural police stations in Chamarajanagar district in connection with the August 15 forest encounter, in which three suspected poachers were killed, and the violence that followed, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation with immediate effect.
According to the official statement, Director General of Police Dr M.A. Saleem has directed the Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police to hand over the case files and the investigating officers concerned to the CID.
The cases transferred include Ramapura Police Station Crime No. 136/2026, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 189(2), 191(2), 126(2), 352, 351(2), 324(4), 132, 115(2) and 190.
Two cases registered at Hanur Police Station have also been transferred – Crime No. 166/2026 under Section 103(1) of the BNS and Crime No. 171/2026 registered under several provisions of the BNS, including Sections 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 324(4), 329(3) and 190, along with Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
The fourth case was registered at Kollegala Rural Police Station as Crime No. 145/2026, under several provisions of the BNS and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The DGP has also requested the Director General of Police, CID, Special Units and Economic Offences, Bengaluru, to arrange for further investigation into the cases and submit a detailed report to the police headquarters after completion of the investigation.
The transfer assumes significance against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the Hanur incident and related incidents of violence in Chamarajanagar.
According to reports, 11 anti-poaching camps, staff quarters, and government vehicles in the Cauvery and adjoining Male Mahadeshwara sanctuaries were vandalised and damaged, with some camps blown up allegedly using explosives.
Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday alleged that several questions have emerged over the Hanur forest shooting incident in Chamarajanagar district, in which three alleged poachers were killed in an encounter.