Chamarajanagar: The man, who was with the three suspected poachers, who were allegedly killed in an encounter when the Forest Department personnel reportedly opened fire at them inside Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area, has released a video from an undisclosed location, which has gone viral on social media.
Mahimadas is the one who has released the video. He has gone absconding ever since the incident occurred.
Mahimadas, had reportedly fled from the spot, when the Forest personnel opened fire. He later got himself admitted at a private hospital in Mysuru, where Animal Husbandry Minister C. Puttaranga Shetty met him and enquired his health. But later, Mahimadas allegedly fled from the hospital, only to surface on video.
In the video that runs 56 seconds, Mahimadas has recalled that ‘On Aug. 15 at about 5.20 am, he had come down from the hill. The Forest Department staff, who confronted us, immediately opened fire, following which he bolted from the spot out of fear.’
Stating that there was an eerie silence after five minutes, Mahimadas said in the video that he was not keeping well and got admitted to the hospital, soon after returning home. “Now, the Forest personnel are looking out for me to be their witness. I am afraid of the Police and hence feared to come out. The Police should give me protection,” he has stated in the video.
Anti-Poaching Camps blown-up in retaliation?
In an apparent act of retaliation over the killing of three suspected poachers in an encounter in the early morning of Aug. 15 by the Forest Department personnel, Anti-Poaching Camps (APCs) of the Forest Department have been allegedly blown-up using gelatine sticks on Aug. 15 and 16.
The APCs which were blown up are Minchinahalli APC in Kothanur Range, Bheemeshwari APC, Hatti APC, Boodikere APC, Bandahalli APC and Kalidoddi APC, according to the information shared by the Forest Department.
Following the blasts, a few walls of the APCs have collapsed while a few have developed cracks. Water tank, generator, vessels, solar panels and other items have also been damaged in the blasts.
TN Govt. announces Rs. 10 lakh ex gratia
Tamil Nadu Forest Minister Ranjit Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to the family members of the three Tamil origin persons, killed in the encounter.
Minister Ranjit Kumar said, “It has been brought to the knowledge of the CM and there is a proposal under consideration to provide Rs 10 lakh. It will be decided soon, after discussing it in detail with the CM,” he told the House.
While DMK’s Manoj Pandian sought for a detailed judicial inquiry into the incident, AIADMK’s General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami demanded for a CBI probe for a free and fair investigation.
This post was published on August 19, 2026 7:30 pm