The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), along with wildlife activists, on Saturday demanded a judicial probe into the killing of Tigress Avni, as well as the speedy rescue of her two cubs.
In a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday, the AAP demanded that an inquiry committee be set up, headed by a judge not from Maharashta, and including a veterinary and other experts.
“According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a tiger has to come out of its own territory into human settlements and prey on and eat human flesh habitually to be labelled as a man-eater. Avni never left her territory. The alleged kills had long gaps ruling out habitual behaviour. Her killing is clearly a murder. The forest land is being sold to many corporates, which is illegal.” AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said. Since the State Forest Department has shown lack of capability and empathy, a team should be called in from another State to complete this mission, she said.
“We demand that Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A.K.Mishra be suspended and Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar be removed. The inquiry committee which was appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest is unacceptable because most of its members are administrative staff and have no veterinary, ballistic and other relevant expertise.” Ms. Sharma Menon said.
