CID team arrives at Bandipur to probe forest fires

A team from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrived in Bandipur National Park this morning to probe the recent forest fires. Forest Department sources told Star of Mysore that a team of eight to nine members arrived at Bandipur from Bengaluru and headed straight to N. Begur Range where the first fire was reported. Thousands of acres of forests in Bandipur Tiger Reserve were gutted in the recent fires during which Murigeppa Tammangol, a forest guard, was killed and three other department staff were grievously injured. Realising the gravity of the situation and to prevent such incidents in future, Chief Minster Siddharamaiah ordered a CID probe into the Bandipur and Kappatagudda forest fires. Bandipur Project Tiger Director T. Hiralal is accompanying the CID team which will also visit Kalkare, Gundre and Maleyur ranges. The CID team will look into all angles of fire and its visit assumes significance as forest officials have suspected that the fire was man-made. Also, there were reports that timber lobby and some smugglers from Kerala were behind the fire incident.