Mysore Bishop Visits Families of Forest Shooting Victims, Seeks Judicial Probe

THOMAYARPALAYAM, August 20, 2026: Bishop Francis Serrao, SJ, of Mysore visited the families of three Catholics killed in a recent police shooting and the family of an injured survivor, offering pastoral support and calling for an independent judicial inquiry into the incident.

Bishop Serrao visited Thomayarpalayam and Mariamangalam on August 19, accompanied by two parish priests. The three deceased—Anthonyswamy, 50, John Rose Peter, 42, and Anthony Kumar, 33—were members of the Catholic communities attached to St Thomas Church and Our Lady of Presentation Church. They were reportedly shot dead during an encounter in a forest area.

The bishop visited the families in their homes and met relatives of the three deceased as well as the family of a fourth man who survived the shooting with injuries and remains hospitalised.

“All four families are very poor,” Bishop Serrao said, noting that the deceased were the sole breadwinners for their families and had young school-going children. He said the families were facing profound distress following the deaths.

“My purpose is to be with you in times of pain and this tragedy, and to assure you that the Church and the diocese is with you,” the bishop told the bereaved families.

He also assured them that the diocese would extend assistance for the education and future needs of the children.

The visit came amid growing concern and fear among the affected families. Bishop Serrao said the family of the surviving victim appeared particularly frightened over the possibility of police or legal action. He said the family was reportedly reluctant even to ascertain the injured man's whereabouts or medical condition because of fears of harassment.

According to the families, the men had entered the forest in search of grazing livestock, including cattle and goats, when the shooting occurred.

Bishop Serrao questioned the use of lethal force against the men and stressed that established legal procedures should have been followed. He said the diocese would seek accountability from the state authorities.

“I will send a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of the state and demand a just and fair investigation and compensation for the families,” he said on August 20.

The bishop called for an independent judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

“Truth cannot remain buried in the silence of the forest,” Bishop Serrao said, urging the Karnataka government to examine the entire sequence of events, including why the men entered the forest, their interaction with security personnel, the alleged assault, the claim of self-defence, the use of firearms and other physical evidence.

He also stressed the importance of the testimony of the surviving victim, Mahimai Dass, and called for scrutiny of the conduct of all officials present at the scene.

The diocese is expected to pursue the matter with the state government while continuing its pastoral and material support to the affected families.

By Nirmala Carvalho