Hanur Firing: Vijayendra alleges govt hiding truth, raises doubts

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra alleged a state government cover-up in the Hanur forest firing incident. He raised doubts, demanded the release of the post-mortem report, and called for a CBI investigation into the matter.

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Sunday said that the forest firing incident that took place in the Hanur range of Chamarajanagar district is raising several doubts day by day, alleging that the state government is trying to hide the truth of the case.Speaking at a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, he said that with the aim of knowing the truth of the incident, a fact-finding committee was already constituted by the BJP. He said that after the committee visited the spot and collected information, more serious questions and doubts have arisen about the case, according to a release.Three suspected poachers were killed in an exchange of fire with forest personnel at Maria Mangala Beat near Shagya village in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. The deceased have been identified as Antoniswamy, Peter, and Kumar, residents of Thomiyar Palya village in the Maria Mangala Beat area. They are suspected of having entered the forest illegally for hunting.According to the forest personnel's account, the officials on duty at Maria Mangala opened fire after the suspected poachers allegedly pointed a gun at them. The bodies were initially taken to the morgue of Kollegal Government Hospital, where police have deployed a security cordon.

BJP alleges cover-up, questions post-mortem and firing range

Vijayendra claimed that the bodies were hurriedly sent for post-mortem in the Hanur case, but even then, the post-mortem report has not been made public yet. The government must answer why the report is not being released", Vijayendra said."What is the need to hide the post-mortem report? Shouldn't people be told what is in the report? The non-release of the report itself is causing many doubts," he questioned.Displaying photos of the incident at the press conference, Vijayendra alleged that the photos show a gun placed on the shoulder part of the deceased and fired from very close range, the release said. Similarly, he raised a question about marks of firing from very close range on the back of the neck as well."According to expert opinion, this does not look like a case of firing from a distance, that is, from long range. There is a possibility of firing from close range. There is information that even the doctors who conducted the post-mortem have mentioned this aspect in the report. Then why is the government not disclosing that report?" Vijayendra questioned."When all these aspects are examined comprehensively, doubt arises as to whether this is a normal encounter case or whether there is some other reason behind it", he said.Vijayendra said that those who died in the encounter were not habitual offenders or persons continuously involved in crimes, the release said.

Search for witness, conflicting statements fuel suspicion

The government should also clarify where Mahimadas is, who had gone to the forest, he demanded."Mahimadas may be a key witness in this case. But there is a doubt whether the Forest Department and Police Department are trying to hide him. The government should disclose where he is," Vijayendra said.Vijayendra referred to local MP Sunil Bose, stating that there was a mistake on the part of forest officials. Similarly, he alleged that in-charge Minister Puttarangashetty also initially gave a statement in a manner that a mistake had happened, but later changed his statement in the Assembly."What was the need to first say that a mistake had happened and then change the statement in the House? Such developments raise further doubts about the case," he said.

BJP demands CBI probe, calls incident 'state-sponsored murder'

Vijayendra demanded that there should also be an inquiry into whether there was any illegal activity by forest department officials, whether those who were targeted in the encounter had information about that illegality, and whether they were targeted and shot for that reason, the release said."Is this just an encounter case or is there some other motive behind it? There are also discussions in the public domain whether this is a state-sponsored murder. The government should answer such serious allegations," he said.Vijayendra demanded that the Forest Minister should immediately resign from his post in the wake of serious doubts being expressed about the role of the Forest Department in the case.He stressed that for an impartial investigation of the case, the investigation should be freed from the influence of departments under the state government. Therefore, the case should be handed over to the CBI for investigation, as per the release."The deceased in the encounter belonged to poor families. Their families are now in distress. From a humanitarian point of view, the government should give Rs 1 crore compensation each to the families of the deceased. Suitable government assistance and employment should be arranged for family members," Vijayendra said.He said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should also raise their voice to give suitable direction to the state government in this regard.He reiterated that for an impartial investigation to be conducted in the Hanur firing case, the case should be immediately handed over to the CBI. The investigation should be transparent, and the truth should be placed before the people of the state, the release said.

BJP slams govt over Tipu Sultan cutouts

On the issue of around 40 cutouts of Tipu Sultan put up in Chikkamagaluru city, BY Vijayendra lashed out at the state government."Is there law in this state? Is there a Home Minister? The government should take stern action against those who resort to anti-national acts. The government should show the guts to arrest those who violate law and take stern legal action," he said.The government should take care that such incidents do not recur in any part of the state. The government should not compromise in any way on the matter of law and order, he said."If the government has to instil confidence among the people, especially in Hindu society, it should take stern action against law violators. After arrest, they should not come out easily on bail. Law should do its work strictly," Vijayendra challenged Home Minister Priyank Kharge.BJP MLA also slammed the state government over the cutouts, asking what it is doing when "anti-national incitement" is taking place. "Is the Congress government still asleep even as anti-national incitement is taking place in Chikkamagaluru? Installing a 40-foot-tall cutout of Tipu Sultan in Tipu City and using a song related to Pakistan's Mujahid is an open challenge to the state's law and order. An FIR should be immediately registered and arrests made against the troublemakers who are attempting to disturb the peace by sharing that video on social media using a Mujahid-supporting song. The Home Minister, who spends his days constantly criticizing the RSS, should set aside appeasement politics and turn his attention this way to take strict action immediately," he said on X.(ANI)(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)