Karnataka, Tamil Nadu cops launch joint operation for stolen arms
The protestors had stolen two riffles and three pistols during the Palar attack
Mysore: Two days after the Palar checkpost was set ablaze in an apparent revenge attack by villagers from across the border, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police on Sunday launched a joint operation to recover the firearms stolen from the Karnataka forest department office. The villagers handed over a rifle to the TN police on Saturday night.
The police have begun the search operation along the river beds of Cauvery backwaters and Palar where the body of poacher Palani was found in a decomposed state triggering violent protests from the villagers. The protestors had stolen two riffles and three pistols during the Palar attack on October 24.
Male Mahadeshwara Hills police, who have registered a case of rioting and theft against 50 unknown people, have asked the Kolathur police to search TN villages for stolen firearms and hand them back to the state forest department.
Mr Marisibba Shetty, CPI, MM Hills police station, told Deccan Chronicle that Tamil Nadu police were cooperating in the investigation. "We have asked Kolathur police station inspector Manohar to conduct raids in Cauverypuram, Govindapaadi, Karekaddu and other surrounding villages for the stolen firearms and elephant ivory," he said.
Salem SP R. Sakthivel said one rifle was recovered, but the forest department was yet to confirm whether it was the firearm that was stolen. He said the situation on the border has eased and vehicles have started plying. However, the public transport is yet to be resumed.
So far, the MM Hills police have not made any arrests for the attack on the Palar checkpost. Police sources said the attackers would be rounded up after the situation returns to normal.
TN poachers preparing to strike back
MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary ACF Vasudeva Murthy claimed that Tamil Nadu poachers in villages along the border are preparing to strike back to avenge the death of Palani.
He said that Karnataka foresters working in MM Hills and Cauvery wildlife sanctuaries are at great risk and requested the government to beef up security along the border near Palar. "State Forest Minister Ramanath Rai is likely to visit Palar next week and I will raise the issue of security with him," he said.
Mr Murthy said he had sent a list of 79 poachers, who are history-sheeters in Karnataka and living in border villages, to Tamil Nadu forest department a week before the shootout.
The list contains the names of all three – Palani, Raja and Muthuswamy – who entered state reserve forests for poaching. But the TN police or the forest department did little to stop the villagers.
He said, "My job is to protect our wildlife and I will do it at any cost. I know I am a target and hated by TN poachers."