Kerala govt issues order to kill tiger that attacked man if it is not captured or transquilised
Wayanad (Kerala), Dec 10: A day after the death of a 36-year-old man near Kalpetta here due to a tiger attack, the Kerala government on Sunday issued orders to kill the animal if it cannot be captured or tranquilised.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL) and Chief Wildlife Warden, D Jayaprasad, issued an order directing the Chief Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle), Kannur, to establish "undoubtedly" that the animal which killed the man was the same before the operation.
The order said that maximum effort should be taken either to cage or tranquilise the animal as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority norms.
"If the animal cannot be captured or tranquilised, and it is established as a man-eater, the same animal shall be killed under section 11 (1) (a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with strict adherence to the provisions of the section and the guidelines of NTCA as the tiger became dangerous to the human life in the area," the order read.
According to the provision of the Wildlife Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden may permit hunting of any wild animal specified in Schedule I, if it has become dangerous to human life.
Vakeri resident Prajeesh's half-eaten body was found near a forest area here on Saturday where he is suspected to have been dragged by the tiger when he went to collect grass for his cattle.
Locals alleged that it was a "man-eater" tiger and demanded the authorities to shoot and kill the animal.
The order, which came after strong protests from both the ruling and opposition fronts, said the operation shall be carried out under the supervision of CCF (Northern Circle). It is also directed to ensure the service of a medical team and a Rapid Response Team.
Earlier in the day, Bathery MLA, I C Balakrishnan, former MLA C K Saseendran and others staged a protest seeking stern action to safeguard the lives of the people in the region.
The leaders and the residents ended their protest after the issuance of the order after which the funeral of Prajeesh was held.
State Forest Minister, A K Saseendran, in a video message said the government will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of the people.
Locals had earlier in the day told the media that the animal was a man-eater as it came back on Saturday night to the same place where Prajeesh's body was found earlier.
"It's a man-eater tiger. Yesterday, hundreds of people walked through the area where his body was found. But today, we can see its pug marks. As neighbours, our demand is to shoot and kill this man-eater tiger," a local resident told a TV channel.
As Prajeesh did not return even after several hours on Saturday, his brother went searching for him and found the body in a nearby forest.
Meanwhile, a senior forest official told PTI that there are three tigers in the locality as per their reports.
"Currently, we need to identify the tiger which attacked the man. All we have is a blurry photo. Steps will be taken according to the order," the official said.
Earlier this year, a 50-year-old man lost his life in a tiger attack.
In August 2017, the Kerala government informed the assembly that according to a tiger census conducted at the Periyar and Parambikulam Tiger Reserves in the state, there was a confirmed presence of 58 big cats in these reserves in 2016.
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Kumaraswamy slams Siddaramaiah for accusing Oppn of targeting his wife in MUDA case
Bengaluru (PTI): JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing the opposition of dragging his wife in the MUDA case and blamed the latter's 'wrongs' for the woes.
The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah for a debate on the Congress government's achievements and developmental activities so far.
"Time and again you (Siddaramaiah) say the opposition is jealous and you are accusing the opposition of dragging your wife (into the MUDA case). You have brought your wife, who was respectfully at home, out (in this case). It is not done by us, the opposition. You have brought her out because of wrongs you have committed (in her name)," Kumaraswamy said.
Addressing reporters here, he said, "repeatedly you (Siddaramaiah) speak about AHINDA, what have you done for AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits)? Haven't we seen what has happened in Valmiki Corporation (scam), the loot that has happened."
Pointing to CM's emotional appeal to people if they would forgive the opposition for targeting his wife over the MUDA 'scam', Kumaraswamy said, "Whether people will forgive or accept us, they will decide later. Let him ask the people what they will do to him (Siddaramaiah) for this kind of governance..."
Siddaramaiah had on Saturday come down heavily on the opposition BJP and the JD(S) for dragging his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA case, who had never stepped into public life and was confined to her house.
He also charged the opposition with targeting him because they could not tolerate a person from a backward community in the Chief Minister’s post.
Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
His wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are named as other accused in the case.
Alleging that the Congress government is entangled in scams, Kumaraswamy said, "No ministers including the Chief Minister have any concern for the troubles faced by the people... they speak about development, only god should save us."
He challenged Siddaramaiah for a discussion on achievements and development work of the current Congress government led by him, with that of his (Kumaraswamy) 14 months JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2018-19.
Claiming that he had to function as CM without proper cooperation from the Congress during the coalition government, Kumaraswamy said, "JD(S) had only 38 MLAs then... what all you (Siddaramaiah/Congress) did then? Today you are saying Kumaraswamy didn't work for 14 months."
Citing rain-related issues reported in the last couple of days in parts of the city, Kumaraswamy said, "A deadline was set to fill potholes... we are seeing the quality of the work that was done, following this rains."
Not only in Bengaluru, in several parts of the state the post monsoon rains are more than expected, leading to damage of crops and people facing trouble, he said, while accusing the government of 'failing' to address the issues
