Close-range shots, broken ribs: What autopsy revealed in Karnataka forest shootout

At least two of the three suspected poachers shot dead in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district on August 15 were fired at from close range, with the victims sustaining multiple shotgun injuries to the chest, abdomen and thigh, documents accessed by India Today TV revealed.The three men of Tamil origin -- Sebastian David Kumar, Anthony Swamy and John Rose Peter -- were shot dead by Forest Department personnel near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. Forest officials had claimed that the men were suspected poachers and that personnel opened fire in self-defence after coming under attack during an anti-poaching operation.The incident has since triggered protests and political friction between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with leaders in both states, including the chief ministers, weighing in.The post-mortem report of Sebastian David Kumar recorded multiple shotgun injuries over the left chest and right thigh and states that the firearm injuries were caused by a shotgun fired from close range. The report also notes multiple pellet injuries and other firearm-related findings. Anthony Swamy's autopsy report also recorded the range of fire as close and added that the cause of death was haemorrhage due to shotgun wounds to the right lower chest and abdomen. The report also mentions a rib fracture and firearm injuries, with pellet fragments found in the abdominal wall.Injury details of the third victim, John Rose Peter, are yet to be known. The autopsy findings have intensified the political controversy, with the Karnataka BJP accusing the Congress government of withholding crucial information about the incident.BJP state president BY Vijayendra alleged that the government was "hiding the truth" about the shootout in the Hanur forest and said the party had constituted a fact-finding committee to ascertain what happened. The committee, he said, had visited the spot and gathered information that raised "several serious questions and doubts".Vijayendra also questioned why the post-mortem reports had not been made public."The government must answer why the post-mortem report is not being released. What is the need to hide the report? Shouldn't people know what is in the report?" he said.He also referred to photographs from the scene and alleged that they appeared to show a firearm being placed near the shoulder of one of the deceased, suggesting that the shot may have been fired from extremely close range.The BJP leader questioned whether the incident was a routine encounter or whether there were other circumstances surrounding the deaths.TAMIL NADU VS KARNATAKA OVER SHOOTOUTThe incident has become a point of political tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu leaders questioning the Karnataka Forest Department’s account and highlighting the Tamil origin of the victims.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay strongly condemned what he described as the "brutal killing" of three Tamils and said the explanation offered by the Karnataka Forest Department was "not acceptable"."I strongly condemn this brutal killing. The explanation given by the Karnataka forest department regarding the incident is not acceptable. A fair investigation should be conducted by a high-level committee on the heinous incident," Vijay said in a social media post earlier.He called for action against those responsible and urged Karnataka to provide compensation to the victims’ families.DMK president MK Stalin also termed the incident a “brutal and inhuman act” and urged the Tamil Nadu government to pursue the matter.The issue was raised in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where members cutting across party lines demanded a high-level probe into the firing.However, Karnataka has defended the action.Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state had ordered the necessary investigations and urged Tamil Nadu not to interfere in the administrative affairs of another state.Shivakumar said a magistrate’s inquiry into the incident had been ordered and that the government would provide compensation to the victims' families. He also rejected demands from Tamil Nadu politicians for a CBI probe."This is a federal structure. No state should interfere with the administration of any other state. People should have this basic understanding. I cannot get involved in any of the law and order problems of Tamil Nadu. Every state has its own problems," he said.Responding to criticism from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, Shivakumar said Karnataka would protect the sanctity of its territory."They should also know that we know how to protect our state. Let them do their job; we will do ours... I don't want to interfere in their administration. We have to protect whatever sanctity there is of our state," he said.The autopsy findings indicating close-range firing are likely to further intensify the dispute between the two states and add to calls for a detailed probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.- EndsPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 12:12 IST