Localites kill tiger as forest officials fail to respond

Madikeri, Karnataka, Mar 31 (UNI) Unable to bear the tiger menace in the area, a few localites reportedly killed a man-eater at Lakkunda near Kutta, located on the Kodagu-Kerala border.

Delayed reports received here said the miscreants had reportedly shot dead the tiger, which had claimed the life of an old man, a couple of months ago and also chopped off its limbs.

Planters and residents in and around Kutta had been in constant fear over the last three months following the terror let loose by three tigers in the area. Besides, killing an old man, the wild cats had also consumed four cows and a dog.

Nanachi Estate Owner Bunny Chengappa told UNI that one of the tigers was seen in her estate and another in the border area. People have stopped moving around the estate alone and plantation workers had to be transported to their work spot in jeeps and provided with guns, crackers and flood lights every day as a precautionary measure. Nowadays, the tigers have started coming out even at day time.

Despite several representations, the forest authorities concerned had failed to take any action, saying that their hands were tied as the Centre had not granted them permission to adminsiter tranquilisers to capture the animals.

Planter Babu Somaiah informed that a team of forest officials, led by Range forest officer Poovaiah, had made all arrangements at Kembukolli to capture a feline spotted in the area. Even doctors from Mysore Zoo had arrived to administer tranquilisers.

Just before they could start the operation, a DFO rushed to the spot and asked the authorities to stop the move as they had obtained only oral orders and not a written one to tranquilise the animal.

The authorities and a large number of spectators could do nothing but watch the tiger walk away.

Residents in the area were enraged over the irresponsible manner in which the whole problem was handled by the forest department.

''Now that a tiger is killed, officials will book a case against innocent people,'' the planters said, adding ''If they had captured the tiger on the other day, it would not have been killed.'' UNI XR RG TS1657