Wanted to capture T1 alive, says Hyderabad shooter Nawab Asghar

HYDERABAD: Shooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan’s son Asghar Ali Khan, 37, a business management graduate from UK’s Leeds University, after shooting down the man-eater T1 Tigress told TOI, “I was disappointed I couldn’t capture the tiger alive. It was shot as it charged at us in a fraction of a second after being hit by a tranquiliser dart. People of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, who were living in shadow of death, have begun moving freely now.”

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The shooting of the tigress Avni took place on Borati-Warud Ralegaon Road Borati village. This is the first time Nawab Asghar shot dead a big cat. Earlier, he was involved in capturing a tiger.


Huntsman Nawab Shafat Ali Khan with his son Asghar Ali Khan. Asghar's bullet took the life of the 'man-eater' tigress Avni in Maharashtra. They are now searching for Avni's cubs


Narrating the incident, Asghar Ali said, “We got information from villagers that the tigress was spotted on the road near a weekly bazaar. At the same spot, three human kills happened, including the last kill. We didn’t want to take a chance and left in an open top Gypsy with spotlights, searchlights and forest staff, including a tranquilising expert. We were patrolling the area when the tigress came on the middle of the road. Two tiger trackers identified it as T1 Tigress. Forest expert tranquiliser Mukbhir Shaik fired a dart. It was just 20m away. Soon after the needle pricked, it instantly charged at us. As she was about to leap at us, I shot at it from within 6m range. I didn’t have time to aim at it too. It was a last-second effort of defence. The bullet brought her down. We tried to save her, but it tried to attack us in its act of aggression.” The incident took place around 10.30pm on Friday. After the death of the tigress, officials identified it as T1 with the help of stripes.

Explaining the difficulties of terrain, Asghar Ali said, “The bushes and cotton crop made our work difficult as visibility was poor. Around 100 camera traps were installed and the tigress was monitored. It was quickly moving from one place to other,” He used 458 magnum rifle to take the tigress down.

Asghar is running a resort in Masinagudi in Ooty. “Since June, 2016, the first kill happened when 13 people were mauled to death. When asked about allegations that tranquiliser dart was placed after shooting down the tigress he said, “These are wild allegations by NGOs. When we are risking our lives on the field, they are making allegations without helping us. The dart penetrated three to four inches.” The shooting team comprised three forest staffers apart from Asghar and another vehicle driver.