Chamarajanagar (Karnataka), Aug 15 (PTI) Three alleged poachers were killed in an exchange of fire with forest personnel in the Datti forest area under the Shagya range in this district, police sources said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the dense forest area falling under the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary when the three men were allegedly hunting wild animals and separating the meat, the sources said.
The forest personnel asked the men to put down their weapons and surrender, but they allegedly opened fire at the staff, prompting retaliatory firing in which all three were killed, the sources said.
The deceased are all residents of Thomiyarpalya in Hanur taluk.
The bodies were shifted to a hospital mortuary in Mysuru, where post-mortem examinations were conducted after the arrival of their family members, the sources said.
Following the encounter, relatives of the deceased allegedly vandalised the Shagya forest office in Hanur taluk, damaging furniture, equipment, a motorcycle and the office board, they said.
“Relatives expressed anger following the encounter and damaged the forest department office and its belongings. Furniture and other articles were also thrown onto the road,” the sources said.
The police are monitoring the situation in the aftermath of the incident, the sources added. PTI GMS ROH
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