Out to check illegal fishing, 2 forest dept staffers drown in Kabini

Lakshmikantha BK | TNN | Updated: Apr 26, 2020, 12:23 IST

Image used for representational purpose only

MYSURU: Two forest department personnel drowned after their patrolling boat capsized in the backwaters of Kabini at Gundre forest range under Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Friday night.
There were reports that four department staffers on a mission to check illegal fishing were attacked by miscreants, leading to the mishap. However, Hediyala ACF Mohan Kumar said that they lost balance after one of them fired in the air after realising that miscreants were approaching them.
The body of guesthouse caretaker Mahesh was fished out while that of temporary watcher Shivakumar could not be traced till Saturday. The operation to fish out his body will resume on Sunday. Forest guard Mahadev and another temporary watcher Bomma survived the mishap.
Based on an alert, DRFO Kumaraswamy, forest guard Madahev, forest watcher Manju, Mahesh, driver Dileep, temporary watchers Bomma, Shivakumar and Cheluvraj, who are tribals, reached the spot around 11 pm.
They found fishing nets on the backwaters, but no fishermen on the spot. Mahadev, Mahesh, Shivakumar and Bomma took a boat to remove nets from the waters. Mohan Kumar said the miscreants came from the Nagarahole side, which is notorious for poachers.
Meanwhile, the family members and relatives of Shivakumar raised suspicion over his death. They sought to know why Shivakumar was involved in the operation when he was deputed in the Begur office. Holding the forest department responsible for the death, they demanded an investigation into the incident. “We suspect the involvement of some persons,” they said.
Beechanahalli police have registered a case.