NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday warned Tamil Nadu politicians against interfering in the state's administration over the killing of three suspected poachers in Chamarajanagar, asserting that Karnataka would protect the sanctity of its territory.Shivakumar also rejected demands from a section of Tamil Nadu politicians for a CBI inquiry into the deaths of the three men, who were residents of villages in Hanur taluk of Karnataka and were described as Tamils.“This is a federal structure. No state should interfere with the administration of any other state. People should have this basic understanding. I cannot get involved in any of the law and order problems of Tamil Nadu.

Every state has its own problems,” he told reporters.The remarks came as the issue was raised in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Tuesday, with members across party lines demanding a high-level probe into the August 15 firing by the Karnataka forest department.

'We know how to protect our state'

Shivakumar said he did not want to respond to every statement coming from Tamil Nadu but stressed that Karnataka would handle the matter within its own administrative framework.

“They should also know that we know how to protect our state. Let them do their job; we will do ours... I don't want to interfere in their administration. We have to protect whatever sanctity there is of our state,” he said.“I don't want to comment on everything. This is a general issue. They should do their job; we should do our job,” he added.The three men, Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter and Kumar, were shot dead by Karnataka forest personnel in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area in the early hours of August 15.According to Karnataka officials, the forest personnel were carrying out an anti-poaching operation when they came under fire from the group. The officials said the personnel returned fire in self-defence, resulting in the deaths of three people.However, the circumstances surrounding the incident have been disputed by the victims' families and Tamil Nadu political leaders.

Tamil Nadu parties seek probe into deaths

Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay had strongly condemned the alleged killings and called for a fair investigation by a high-level committee.

He had also said the explanation offered by the Karnataka forest department was unacceptable.In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, former chief minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami demanded a CBI probe, citing allegations by the families that the three men were shot dead while a fourth person was injured and later received treatment in Mysuru.Palaniswami said the incident required an investigation to establish the facts, particularly as the area lies close to the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.Other legislators also demanded an impartial investigation. DMK MLA Manoj Pandian described the incident as a “fake encounter” and alleged a serious human rights violation, while seeking a judicial inquiry. Congress member Tharahai Cuthbert also demanded a CBI probe.

BJP MLA Bhojarajan backed an impartial inquiry, saying the incident had raised concerns among Tamils living in Karnataka.

Karnataka orders magisterial inquiry

Karnataka has already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the deaths, according to the Tamil Nadu government's statement in the assembly.The Karnataka government also announced interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the three deceased.The bodies were handed over to their families after postmortems on August 17 for the last rites.The fourth person, identified as Mahimadan, was injured in the incident and was admitted to a hospital.