NTCA starts probe into Lalgarh tiger death after 15 months

Kolkata: Fifteen months after the death of a Royal Bengal tiger at Lalgarh, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has started a probe into the case. W Longvah, IG NTCA, Eastern Zone, visited the Bagghola forest and the exact spot where the body of the tiger was found with a spear piercing its face on April 13 last year.

Longvah visited the forest area and talked with the local residents and forest range officials. "We have come here to gather evidence in connection with the death of the tiger," Longvah said.

A senior NTCA official said that the state government has already submitted its report in connection with the death of the tiger and all the reports have been examined. The probe into the death of the tiger was announced by the Centre on the occasion of International Tiger Day, July 29.

"We were informed that a team from NTCA would come to probe the events leading to the death of the tiger at Lalgarh. Senior officials from our western circle accompanied the IG on Friday. We have already submitted all the findings of our probe to NTCA," said Ravikant Sinha, state Chief Wildlife Warden.

It may be mentioned that the state Forest department had lodged an FIR against two persons for being responsible in killing the tiger. However, the police claimed in the probe that they could not fix up the duo behind the death.

According to the probe of the state Forest department, tribal hunters from the nearby Aajusuli village, who were celebrating a hunting festival, were responsible for the death. The tiger also had several injury marks in its body.

Former state Chief Wildlife Warden Atanu Raha said: "I have serious doubts over the findings of a probe that is being held after 15 months of the tiger's death."