Women and Child Development Minister, Maneka Gandhi, has called the killing of tigress Avni a “ghastly murder.” She has criticised her own party BJP’s government in the state and vowed to take up the issue “legally, criminally as well as politically”.
Five-year-old Avni, a tigress believed to be responsible for the death of 13 people, was killed on Friday night after a 53-day-long hunt.
The tigress, fondly known as Avni to animal lovers, was a mother of two cubs. A team of more than 150 people spent months in a massive search after the Maharashtra state minister ordered to kill the so-called man-eater tigress.
According to Indian media reports, Avni, also known as T1, was shot dead by Ashgar Ali Khan, son of India’s most famous hunter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan. Ms Gandhi called Mr Khan a criminal in her tweets.
People expressed their rage on social media after the announcement of Avni’s death. Many called the event a national shame. Famous Bollywood actor Koena Mitra tweeted, “National Shame! Avni lost the battle to the most horrible species living on this planet! Ashamed to be a human.”
India’s Supreme Court had ruled in September that the tigress could be killed if tranquillisers failed. Several appeals were made against the order but in vain.
According to the news agency PTI, the environment minister of Maharashtra Mr Sudhir Mungantiwar defended the killing of Avni as a last resort.
“Avni was shot dead as a last resort when all attempts to tranquillise her failed and she attacked officials” Mr Mungantiwar was quoted as saying.
Author Shunali Khullar Shroff expressed her sorrow sharing the picture of Avni lying dead in the hospital. “Feeling unbearable sorrow after seeing this photograph. Sorry Avni we took away your forest, and then we took away your life,” she tweeted.
Actress Raveena Tandon hopes Avni’s cubs will not be killed. She tweeted, “Sorry # Avnithetigress. We entered your home, stole it, then shot you dead. Prayers for you. Hoping we win the battle at least to protect your children. Karma. I pray you exist .” (sic)
A decision on Avni’s cubs could be taken in the coming days.
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