Mah, MP officials in conflict over tigress death

Nagpur: The Madhya Pradesh and the Maharashtra forest department officials are in conflict after the former charged Deolapar forest range officials under Nagpur division with dumping carcass of a tigress that was found dead in their territory.
On December 11, tigress T-19, known as Sharmilee of Pench (MP) buffer, was found dead in Khandasa forest bordering Deolapar range of Maharashtra. T-19 used to shuffle between forest areas of Deolapar and MP Pench’s buffer. As the death was shrouded in mystery, the MP officials were investigating the case in detail.
Talking to TOI, RS Kori, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Seoni, said, on January 31, the officials picked up temporary forest labourer Dhamsingh Khandate, who worked in Deolapar, for interrogation during which he said that the round officer Salim Razzak Khan had asked him and staff to dump the carcass on the MP side.
Bullock cart of one Laxman Tekam was allegedly used to shift the carcass on the night of December 10. “When we reached the spot on December 11, there were trails of a bullock cart near the carcass. With no strong for cause of death, it was evident that the tigress died at some other spot and later dumped on MP side,” said Kori.
“Though exact cause of T-19 death is unknown, we have sent samples to various labs. From confession of Khandate, we have come to know that the tigress died on Maharashtra side,” Kori added.
CCF P Kalyan Kumar, Nagpur, said, “We have sought all the relevant papers from the MP officials to probe the allegations. Ramtek ACF Sandeep Giri will meet Kori and collect all papers on Monday. There are many gaps in the case which we need to investigate.”
“It is hard to believe the charge as forester Khan was one among the team that effectively monitored a tigress and three cubs in Deolapar range during last summer. We learnt about the allegations through media,” said Kumar.
Deolapar RFO SG Parihar, who was in Nagpur on Sunday to record statements of the team that was present at the spot, denied the charge as baseless. “Why cart owner has not been arrested till date? Why Khan himself has not arrested by taking Maharashtra officials into confidence? The MP officials are passing buck on us,” he said.
Parihar said, “The forest labourer was picked from his house and not arrested near Khawasa as claimed. The MP foresters were trailing him for the last 15-20 days and had visited him twice. It is after nearly two months they are claiming we are involved. When Khandate was arrested, Khan and others had gone to Kurai forest office they were not allowed to meet him. Now he has been renamed to judicial custody.”