Over 250 people gathered at Carter Road Amphitheatre at Bandra in Mumbai on November 4 evening to mourn the killing of tigress Avni . It was originally supposed to be an event to support the #LetAvniLive campaign.
As protests mounted against the killing, Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray tweeted, “Let’s rename the Ministry of Forests as Ministry of Poaching. It’s anyway a sham!”
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Mr. Thackeray asked if Asgar Ali, the civilian who shot the tigress, had “the explicit permission to of the court to kill her, in his name, also when there was an alternative to dart her. Can he be tried under the wildlife protection act?”
The candlelight vigil at Bandra was organised by Bombay Animal Rights, a collective of animal lovers, who alleged that a “land grab deal” is what got the tigress killed following two months of surveillance. They said more tigers could be targeted soon.
Land grab charge
Vijay Kishore Mohanani, co-founder of the collective, told The Hindu , “[The killing of Avni] is a total land grab issue with a huge cartel of people who support the government. T-1 [Avni] was the first sacrifice and now T-2 and T-3 shall be targets soon.”
The protesters sought legal proceedings against Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A.K Mishra, the two hunters and those involved in the killing.
Dayanand Stalin, director of the NGO Vanashakti, said, “If you’re a nature lover, do not vote for this government. We are making the forest department the scape goat and no forest officer wants to kill animals, he only follows the orders of the government.”
Mr. Stalin referenced his 2014 petition in the Bombay High Court seeking protection of critical wildlife through the demarcation of forest land. “Humans have no business inside a forest,” he said adding that goalposts were constantly being shifted in the Mumbai’s Aarey forest to convenience the construction of the Mumbai metro. “This government will allow encroachment for the sake of money.” He also confirmed that Avni’s cubs stand no chance of survival unless they’re rehabilitated.
Animal activist Anand Siva, who was present, said the Maharashtra Government had diverted 465 hectares of forest land to an industrialist in Yavatmal.
Dayanand Stalin, director of the NGO Vanashakti, said, “The State has three lakh sq.km of barren land. Why should corporates enter the forest?So they can conduct their activities without surveillance and discharge of waste in secret.”
“If you die in the forest the government has to pay ₹ 10 lakh as compensation, the villagers admitted [the encroachment into the Pandharkawada forest] is benefiting them. The government is encouraging the villagers to go into the forest so they can grab the land.”
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