Fadnavis: Staff shot her in self- defence

Mumbai/ New Delhi, Nov. 5: As the controversial killing of tigress Avni in Maharashtra kicked up a row, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday preliminary reports showed that the forest department team shot her in “self- defence” after it was attacked while trying to tranquillise the animal. Mr Fadnavis also said any procedural lapse in the incident will be probed. The tigress, officially as T1 and believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 people in the past two years, was shot dead by sharpshooter Asgar Ali in the Borati forest in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district on Friday as part of an operation. Mr Fadnavis said preliminary reports made available to him stated that the tigress was shot after she attacked the forest staff trying to tranquillise her. “There is no happiness over the killing. The forest department took the decision since she had killed 13 to 14 people. There are some doubts regarding whether the tigress was first shot and then the dart inserted, this aspect will be probed,” he told reporters in Mumbai.

“We speak of increasing tiger population and conserving wildlife, and then unfortunately such a decision had to be taken. The tiger is a gentleman. He attacks only if his habitat is violated. Preliminary reports with me say the tigress attacked the forest department team and she was shot in self defence,” the chief minister said.

“Hunter Asghar Ali was hired... The doubts raised regarding the killing will be verified.”

Asked to comment on Union minister Maneka Gandhi’s statements on the killing, he said she had used “harsh words”.

Earlier in the day, forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also crossed swords with Ms Gandhi and claimed that the latter “lacked information” on the issue.