---
title: "Hanur shoot-out: PFL seeks high-level inquiry into deaths"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/hanur-shootout-probe-demand-ce79d
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-17T15:32:26.837Z
modified: 2026-08-17T18:30:06.372Z
language: en-IN
---

# Hanur shoot-out: PFL seeks high-level inquiry into deaths

The People’s Legal Forum has called for a high-level investigation into the killing of three locals in a shoot-out at Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Hanur taluk. Forum officials allege officials knew the victims and moved the bodies before a post-mortem and police notification, raising questions about 

## Key takeaways

- Three people died in a shoot-out at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk.
- The People’s Legal Forum is demanding a high-level inquiry into the incident.
- Forum claims officials knew the victims and moved bodies for post-mortem without police notification, and that no spot mahazar was done.
- Allegations include non-compliance with Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission guidelines and rights under the Forest Rights Act and PESA Act.

## What Happened

The People’s Legal Forum has urged a high-level inquiry into the deaths of three people in a shoot-out at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk, reported on August 17, 2026. The forum attributes the deaths to a confrontation that occurred early on Saturday. Forum director and advocate Baburaj Palladan described the victims as locals who visited forests to exercise their rights under the Forest Rights Act and the PESA Act. He asserted that forest department officials were familiar with the deceased and had access to their addresses for a long period. Palladan also criticized the rapid removal of the bodies from the forest for post-mortem without informing the jurisdictional police and claimed that no spot mahazar was conducted. He further said that guidelines from the Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission had not been followed, and he framed the incident as not justifiable under any grave necessity, calling for accountability through a high-level inquiry to bring erring officials to book.

## Why It Matters

The forum’s demand centers on potential procedural lapses and rights considerations surrounding the handling of the deceased, as well as the broader issue of forest rights holders’ engagement with protected areas. By alleging prior knowledge of the victims by forest department officials and the absence of certain procedural steps, the statement frames the incident as raising questions about governance, accountability, and adherence to relevant legal frameworks governing forest access and post-incident procedures.

## Background

The report identifies the victims as locals who used forest access rights under two legal instruments: the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. The location of the incident is the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk. The forum’s spokesperson drew attention to alleged procedural gaps, including the absence of a spot mahazar and the lack of prior notification to the jurisdictional police before post-mortem arrangements, and questioned compliance with Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission guidelines.

## Key Facts

- The shoot-out occurred at Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk.
- Three people died in the incident.
- The People’s Legal Forum is calling for a high-level inquiry.
- Baburaj Palladan is the forum director and advocate making the statements.
- The victims were local forest users claiming rights under the Forest Rights Act and PESA Act.
- The forum alleges forest department officials knew the deceased and their addresses for a long time.
- The post-mortem was arranged without informing the jurisdictional police, according to the forum.
- No spot mahazar was conducted, as claimed by the forum.
- The forum alleges non-compliance with Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission guidelines.
- The forum argues there was no grave situation warranting lethal force.

## What Happens Next

The report does not specify any scheduled actions beyond the forum’s call for a high-level inquiry to probe the incident and hold involved officials to account. No further measures or timelines are detailed in the provided material.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/hanur-shootout-probe-demand-ce79d
Reported from: Multiple Sources