India, Aug. 16 -- Forest officials shot dead three suspected poachers in Chamarajanagar district's Holedatti forest early on Saturday, police said. Chief minister DK Shivakumar said that the state government has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the deaths, and a separate police probe is also underway.

The deceased were identified as Peter, Kumar and Antonyswamy, whose wife Lourdamery lodged a complaint upon which an FIR was registered. She said that her family reared cattle to earn a living, and Antonyswamy, his brother Kumar, brother-in-law Peter and another relative Joseph entered the forest on Tuesday to search for cattle that were reportedly missing. The group stayed the night in the forest, she added.

Forest officials said the fi...