Bangalore Church seeks inquiry into three forest shootings 

BENGALURU, Karnataka (Indian Catholic News) — The Archdiocese of Bangalore has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the deaths of three men shot by Forest Department personnel. 

Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy told the state Assembly that the deceased were positioned at a higher altitude and allegedly fired first. He said forest personnel could not clearly see the suspects and opened fire in self-defense, with bullets hitting the victims above the waist. 

The Christian Community expressed “deep shock, anguish and concern” over the deaths of Antony Swamy, John Rose Peter and Anthony Kumar, residents of Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district, who were shot in the Chikkallur Reserved Forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Division in the early hours of August 15. 

“We strongly condemn the loss of these three lives,” the statement said. 

It said allegations of trespassing, poaching or unlawful activity “cannot, by themselves, justify the use of lethal force to kill anyone.” Any use of firearms by law-enforcement or forest personnel “must be strictly necessary, proportionate and consistent with the law.” 

Questions over deaths 

“Serious questions have been raised regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths,” including whether there was “an immediate and credible threat” to Forest Department personnel and whether lethal force was unavoidable, the statement said. 

The archdiocese also cited a First Information Report (FIR), the document used to initiate a police investigation in India, filed by Hanur police based on a complaint lodged by Lourde Mary, the wife of one of the deceased men.  

 “A murder case has been registered, while no individual Forest Department personnel have been named as an accused,” it said. 

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, who signed the statement, appealed to the Government of Karnataka to “institute an independent judicial enquiry headed by a sitting judge” to establish facts, determine accountability and ensure justice. 

The archdiocese urged the government to provide adequate compensation and employment for an eligible member of each bereaved family, along with “immediate humanitarian support.” 

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