Kanakapura forest officials meet PCCF, seek security

A team of forest officials from Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanakapura, on Monday met PCCF (wildlife) K Sugara, demanding that the chief wildlife warden ensure security to staff and also provide them police protection.

According to a staffer from the sanctuary, political pressure and threats had been increasing ever since the staff shot down a poacher who was found with weapons recently. They also told the PCCF that the locals were also threatening the staff with dire consequences.

“A few days back, the locals set fire to a forest checkpost when a staffer was inside. The law and order situation in and around the forest is very bad and that is the reason why we sought security,” said a staffer.

Sugara has assured them that he will speak to the police for the safety of his colleagues. The Sathanur police have registered cases and are on the lookout for the others who ventured into the forest along with Gurumurthy Siddaiah, who was shot dead by the forest guards.