‘3 Acts violated while killing tigress Avni’

MUMBAI: The independent committee constituted by the state has highlighted that the team that killed tigress T-1, also known as Avni, had violated three Acts under the law. The state received the report of the committee on Wednesday. While it is yet to be made public, HT has learnt that the report has highlighted several glaring inconsistencies, similar to the ones highlighted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on the November 2 incident.

The forest department said that according to the state committee report, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Arms Act, 1959 and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, were violated on the day of the incident.

Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forest (Mantralaya), state forest department, said, “The committee has raised issues regarding the darting and shooting of the tigress. Prima facie, three Acts

have been violated. The committee also confirmed that T-1 was a ‘man-eater’ tigress.”

Another forest department official, who is privy to the report, said, “The committee report said, prima facie based on the postmortem report, it seemed that the drug- administered through tranquillization had not been injected properly into the tigress’ body and that there was no qualified

veterinarian present when she was darted, amounting to violations of NDPS Act.”

The report further states that hunter Asghar Ali Khan did not cooperate in surrendering his weapons during the operation, expressing doubts about his role and experience added Tiwari.

“It is unclear which gun did Khan use. He was not authorised to kill the animal, only his father

Shafat was. These two details qualify for the violation of Arms Act and Wildlife Protection Act.”

Tiwari said the forest department is seeking comments from principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) and have written to him to respond to details revealed by the state report. “We will take the opinion of the law and judiciary department and decide on the further course of action,” he said.