Man-Eater Tiger’s Name Stirs Controversy in UP’s Kheri for Hurting Sentiments
The Muslim outfit has submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate requesting that the tiger's name be changed.
Image for representative purpose only. (Image : Reuters)
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Lucknow: A Muslim outfit from Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, Kheri Ekta Parishad has raised objections over naming a man-eater tiger ‘Mustafa’.
The group has said that the name ‘Mustafa’ is often used in reference to Prophet Mohammad, the last Prophet of Islam and giving this name to a man-eater will hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.
“We demand an FIR against the forest official who named the man-eater tiger. We have given a memorandum to District Magistrate Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday and have also requested the authorities to change the name of the tiger,” Ashraf Khan, Chief of Kheri Ekta Parishad said.
The tiger whose name has set off a controversy, is believed to have killed six people before he was rescued from Mustafabad in Pilibhit tiger reserve in February 2017. The tiger is currently being kept in a separate enclosure at Lucknow Zoo.
Meanwhile, Director of Lucknow Zoo, RK Singh said that the naming of the tiger was done as per normal procedures.
“The name Mustafa was given to the tiger as it was rescued from Mustafabad in Pilibhit district. There was no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments. We have not yet received any formal complaint in this regard.”
On the other hand District Magistrate Kheri has confirmed receiving the memorandum from the members of the minority community for changing the name of the tiger.
The authorities also said that memorandum will be sent to concerned department for further action.
The group has said that the name ‘Mustafa’ is often used in reference to Prophet Mohammad, the last Prophet of Islam and giving this name to a man-eater will hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.
“We demand an FIR against the forest official who named the man-eater tiger. We have given a memorandum to District Magistrate Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday and have also requested the authorities to change the name of the tiger,” Ashraf Khan, Chief of Kheri Ekta Parishad said.
The tiger whose name has set off a controversy, is believed to have killed six people before he was rescued from Mustafabad in Pilibhit tiger reserve in February 2017. The tiger is currently being kept in a separate enclosure at Lucknow Zoo.
Meanwhile, Director of Lucknow Zoo, RK Singh said that the naming of the tiger was done as per normal procedures.
“The name Mustafa was given to the tiger as it was rescued from Mustafabad in Pilibhit district. There was no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments. We have not yet received any formal complaint in this regard.”
On the other hand District Magistrate Kheri has confirmed receiving the memorandum from the members of the minority community for changing the name of the tiger.
The authorities also said that memorandum will be sent to concerned department for further action.