Forest guards, smugglers exchange fire

 A villager was injured in the exchange of fire between smugglers and officials of Forest Department in Veeranahosahalli in Nagarhole National Park on Sunday.

The injured Shivanna is undergoing treatment in Hunsur Government Hospital.
Acting on an information that a group of smugglers had entered forests in Range Forest Officer Rajappa and his men were waiting at a vantage point. On seeing a group of smugglers, the forest officials asked them to stop.

However, the smugglers opened fire at the officials, which provoked the officials to retaliate, said ACF Prasannakumar. Shivanna was caught in the cross fire.

Shivanna charged that forest officials fired at him while he was grazing cattle on the tank bund. “Although, I did not enter the forest area, the department is blaming me. I did not have anything to do with the smugglers”, he added.

Condemning the incident, villagers of Mudaganur and surrounding areas staged a demonstration at Veeranahosahalli gate.