Hanur forest encounter: Karnataka BJP demands CBI probe, minister's resignation
Synopsis
Three alleged poachers killed in a Karnataka forest encounter — and the BJP says the post-mortem reports are being suppressed, a key witness is missing, and two officials contradicted themselves. B.Y. Vijayendra is calling it a possible 'state-sponsored killing' and demanding a CBI probe. The government's silence on the autopsy findings is becoming the story.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP President B.Y.
Vijayendra on 24 August demanded a CBI probe into the Hanur forest encounter in Chamarajanagar district .
Three alleged poachers were killed in the encounter; BJP alleges post-mortem reports indicate close-range firing and have not been made public.
A person identified as Mahim Das , described as a potential key witness, remains unaccounted for, according to Vijayendra.
BJP alleged that local MP Sunil Bose and district in-charge minister Puttarangashetty made contradictory statements about the incident.
Vijayendra demanded the resignation of Forest and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy and ₹1 crore compensation for each victim's family.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Chamarajanagar MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday, 24 August alleged that the Hanur forest shooting incident — in which three alleged poachers were killed in an encounter in Chamarajanagar district — raises serious unanswered questions, and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe along with the immediate resignation of Forest and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy. Vijayendra accused the state government of attempting to suppress the truth surrounding the incident.
Key Allegations Raised by BJP
Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said the BJP had constituted a fact-finding committee that visited the site and gathered information, after which 'several serious questions and doubts had emerged.' He questioned why the post-mortem reports of the three deceased had not been made public. 'The bodies were hurriedly sent for post-mortem examination. Even then, the report has not been made public. The government must explain why it is not releasing it,' he said.
Displaying photographs from the incident, Vijayendra alleged the images appeared to show the deceased had been shot from extremely close range, with the firearm allegedly placed near the shoulder. He also raised questions over marks on the back of the neck, claiming these indicated close-range firing. 'According to experts, this does not appear to be a case where shots were fired from a long range. We have information that the doctors who conducted the post-mortem have also mentioned this aspect in their report. If so, why is the government not making the report public?' he asked.
The Mahim Das Question
Vijayendra also sought clarity on the whereabouts of a person identified as Mahim Das, who had reportedly gone into the forest at the time of the incident. 'Mahim Das could be a key witness. There is suspicion that the Forest Department and police may be trying to keep him away from the public. The government must disclose where he is,' he said. The BJP leader alleged that those killed were not habitual offenders or continuously involved in criminal activities, further deepening doubts over the encounter's circumstances.
Contradictory Statements by Officials
Vijayendra cited statements allegedly made by local MP Sunil Bose, who he said had initially stated that Forest Department officials were at fault. He also alleged that district in-charge minister Puttarangashetty had first suggested a mistake had occurred, but later changed his statement in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. 'Why was there a need to first say a mistake had occurred and then change the statement in the Assembly? Such developments have raised further doubts,' Vijayendra said. He demanded an investigation into whether irregularities were occurring within the Forest Department and whether those targeted had information about such irregularities.
BJP's Demands: CBI Probe and ₹1 Crore Compensation
Vijayendra alleged that public discourse had included claims of a 'state-sponsored killing' and insisted the government must answer these allegations. He argued that an impartial investigation would not be possible under state-controlled departments and demanded the case be handed over to the CBI. He also demanded ₹1 crore compensation for the family of each person killed, noting that the deceased belonged to poor families now facing financial hardship. 'On humanitarian grounds, the government should provide ₹1 crore compensation to each family. It should also provide appropriate assistance and employment to family members,' he said.
Vijayendra urged Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to press the state government to provide relief to the affected families. He also challenged Home Minister Priyank Kharge to act firmly on law and order, separately criticising the installation of around 40 cut-outs of Tipu Sultan in Chikkamagaluru city as a breach of public order. The BJP reiterated its core demands: full disclosure of facts, public release of post-mortem reports, compensation for victims' families, and an immediate CBI handover.
Point of View
Effectively wresting the narrative from the state government. What is unusual here is the BJP's specific focus on post-mortem suppression: if the reports do indicate close-range firing, that is a material forensic finding that the government cannot continue to withhold without political cost. The contradictory statements by both the local MP and the district minister — first acknowledging a possible mistake, then walking it back in the Assembly — are the most substantively damaging detail in Vijayendra's account. The Mahim Das angle adds a further layer that investigators, CBI or otherwise, would need to address. Whether this escalates into a sustained political crisis for the Karnataka Congress government will depend on whether the post-mortem report eventually corroborates or refutes the close-range firing claim.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hanur forest encounter?
The Hanur forest encounter refers to an incident in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka in which three alleged poachers were killed in a confrontation with Forest Department officials. The BJP has raised questions about the circumstances of the deaths, alleging that forensic evidence points to close-range firing rather than a routine encounter.
Why is the Karnataka BJP demanding a CBI probe?
BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra argues that an impartial investigation is not possible under state-controlled departments, citing suppressed post-mortem reports, contradictory statements by officials, and the unexplained absence of a potential key witness named Mahim Das. The party has formally demanded the case be handed over to the CBI.
What has the BJP alleged about the post-mortem reports?
Vijayendra alleged that the post-mortem reports have not been made public despite the examinations having been completed. He claimed that photographs from the incident suggest close-range firing and that doctors who conducted the post-mortem reportedly noted this in their findings — a detail the government has not confirmed or denied.
Who is Mahim Das and why does he matter?
Mahim Das is identified by the BJP as a person who had reportedly gone into the forest around the time of the incident. Vijayendra described him as a potential key witness and alleged that the Forest Department and police may be attempting to keep him away from public scrutiny, a charge the government has not yet responded to.
What compensation has the BJP demanded for the victims' families?
B.Y. Vijayendra demanded ₹1 crore compensation for the family of each of the three persons killed in the encounter, noting that the deceased belonged to economically poor families now facing financial hardship. He also called for appropriate employment assistance for surviving family members.
