Bengaluru, 17 August 

Proceedings in both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature were disrupted on Monday as the Opposition BJP demanded the removal of Minister B Nagendra and a judicial probe into the killing of three villagers in Chamarajanagar district.

Archbishop Peter Machado too condemned the killing and urged a fair and impartial investigation.

In the Assembly, BJP and JD(S) members raised the issue during Question Hour, with Leader of Opposition R Ashoka saying the House would not function until Nagendra was dropped from the Cabinet. The BJP alleged that Nagendra had not received a clean chit in the Rs 89-crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam. Nagendra, who had resigned from the previous Cabinet over the allegations, was inducted again on 3 August with the Planning and Statistics portfolio.

The Council too witnessed an uproar, with BJP members alleging “loot” and demanding Nagendra’s removal. Proceedings were adjourned amid sloganeering.

The Opposition also demanded a judicial probe into the 15 August deaths of three suspected poachers in the Hanur wildlife range, Rs 1 crore compensation for each family and Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation.

Reddy told the Assembly that a magisterial inquiry was underway and defended the forest personnel, saying the three men had entered the reserved forest armed with country-made pistols and opened fire despite warnings. The personnel returned fire in self-defence, he said. Some 20-30 kg of suspected deer meat and a firearm were recovered, while a fourth suspect escaped.

The deceased were identified as Antony Swami, 50, John Rose Peter, 42, and Kumar, 33. Reddy said they had not reported missing cattle and appeared to have entered the forest for hunting. The probe report is expected within three to four days, he said, adding that “merciless action” would be taken if officials were found at fault. A further probe would be considered if the findings were unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, the three villagers were laid to rest on Monday amid heavy police security. Their bodies were brought from Mysuru’s KR Hospital mortuary after postmortems and kept for public viewing at Tomiyarshetty Palya. Special prayers were held before funeral processions took the bodies to their respective villages.

Families have alleged that the men had entered the forest to search for missing cattle and called the incident a “fake encounter”. Forest officials maintain they were poachers.