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One-man panel to fix responsibility for tigress' killing

The Andhra Pradesh government has given a three-day deadline to a one-man probe panel to submit an enquiry report on the killing of a tigress by unidentified persons in the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad on October 4.

Announcing the terms of reference of the one-man panel led by senior Indian Administrative Service officer and Principal Secretary (Revenue) Dr A V S Reddy, Forest Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu said on Monday that the probe would pinpoint the security and protection lapses by the zoo staff and their possible involvement in the gruesome crime.

The panel would look into the reasons for the delay in reporting the incident to the government and also identify the persons responsible for the lapses.

The minister told newspersons that the AVS Reddy panel would critically analyse the security arrangement at the zoo and identify the shortcomings. It would also suggest an action plan for better management and upkeep of the zoo, including security and protection aspects.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner S R Sukumara has announced a reward of Rs 100,000 to persons furnishing information about the culprits involved in the killing of the one-year-old tigress in the tiger safari of the zoo on October 4.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development Bandaru Dattatreya suggested that the award be raised to Rs one million.

Police personnel have launched a massive manhunt for the poachers behind the killing. They also mounted a vigil on the tanneries in and around the state capital.

On the night of October 4, in an unprecedented incident, a tigress was killed and skinned by three to four unidentified intruders in the tiger safari of the Nehru Zoological Park.

The incident was noticed on Thursday morning but officials lodged a complaint with the police only in the evening. Subsequently, four employees of the zoo were suspended. The police have so far interrogated about a dozen staffers of the zoo but could not get any clinching evidence about their complicity in the crime.

The forest department has ordered a departmental enquiry into the incident even as the AVS Reddy panel was appointed for a high-level probe. The Crime Investigation Department of the state police, besides the city police, is also investigating into the episode, which has sent shock waves among the people of the city.

EARLIER REPORT
Andhra CID begins probe into tiger's killing in zoo

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