Salem: Bus service to Matheswaran Hill has been suspended following the incident in which the Karnataka Forest Department officials shot dead a Tamil Nadu fisherman who was hunting deer in the Karnataka forest area near Mettur in Salem district. The body of the fisherman, who was shot dead, was sent for post-mortem at the Salem Government Hospital and handed over to his relatives.
Four persons, including fishermen Raja (40) from Govindabadi near Kolathur in Salem district and Emanur in Dharmapuri district, Ravi (40) from Chettipatti, and Ilayaperumal (40) went through Palaru in two parishals on the 14th and engaged in deer hunting. Raja was shot dead by the Karnataka Forest Department officials in firing. On Friday, Raja’s body was recovered from the Adipalaru river by the Erode district Barkur police and sent to Salem Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. Raja, who was shot dead by the Karnataka Forest Department, is survived by his wife Pauna (35), a daughter and two sons.
Due to this incident, the police of the two states are engaged in security work to prevent the tense situation on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. Salem Police led by SP Sivakumar have strengthened security arrangements in the villages along the Tamil Nadu border.
Also, devotees from various districts including Salem, Erode, and other districts visit Matheswaran Hill in Karnataka on the occasion of Shivaratri on Saturday. Due to the fishermen’s murder, the bus service from Salem and Erode to Matheswaran Hill has been stopped. Due to this, tens of thousands of devotees from Tamil Nadu have been prevented from going to Matheswaran Hill.
Fisherman Raja’s body was conducted post mortem at Salem Government Hospital on Saturday evening. Raja’s relatives gathered at the Salem Government Hospital from this morning. Raja’s relatives filed a case against the Karnataka Forest Department for shooting him dead and demanded arrest.
Following this, the Salem Metropolitan Police engaged in heavy security at the Government Hospital. After the post-mortem of Raja’s body was conducted at the government hospital tonight and handed over to his relatives, the body was taken to Raja’s house under heavy police protection.
A team led by government doctor Gokularamanan performed the post-mortem on Raja’s body, and the entire event was video recorded. After receiving the report of the medical team, the police officials are considering taking further action in the case of Raja being shot dead. The police are engaged in security work at the Balaru checkpost on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.