TN Leaders Flay Killing of Three Tamils by Karnataka Forest Department

Chennai: Leaders including DMK president M.K. Stalin, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and heads of Left parties on Sunday condemned the killing of three Tamils by the Karnataka forest department and asked Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to condemn the Karnataka government.

Stalin, posting on social media, said the brutal killing of three Tamils by the state forest department in a forest area of Karnataka is shocking. This brutal act, carried out with no regard for human life, is strongly condemned, he said.

The DMK leader alleged that the Karnataka Forest Department is making efforts to save the culprits, adding this should be registered as murder case. He also demanded a transparent and impartial judicial investigation and punishment for those responsible. He sought steps by the TN government to provide appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased and provide them with government jobs.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko urged the Karnataka government to register murder cases against forest personnel for killing innocent Tamils who went in search of their cattle. Karnataka government should pay compensation for the families of victims.

CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian said the three victims went to the forest in search of their missing cattle, and the forest department is making false allegations to divert the issue. The concerned staff should be suspended and arrested, he said. Making a similar demand, CPI-M State secretary P. Shanmugam asked the Tamil Nadu government to condemn the incident.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said the three Tamils had not indulged in any illegal activities and the Karnataka forest department’s claim that they were killed in an encounter was false.