CM orders CID probe

Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the killing of assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Madan Naik by drunken tourists at the Crocodile Park in Dandeli.

Gowda directed forest minister CP Yogeshwar to hand over the case to CID. The chief minister said: “I have asked the forest minister to hand over the case to CID in the wake of apprehensions over police inaction in investigating the case.”

Naik was battered to death by drunken tourists who became angry when he advised them not to feed crocodiles with meat. The attackers also assaulted Naik’s wife and daughters.

The local police arrested six persons involved in the crime. But family members and colleagues of the deceased forest officer were not satisfied with the probe and demanded that the state government get the case investigated by other agencies and put the guilty behind bars.