Tiger scare makes canvassing tough in Malihabad

TNN Feb 15, 2012, 02.33AM IST LUCKNOW: Perhaps it is mounting pressure from the candidates contesting from Malihabad that has compelled the forest department to summon a shooter from Hyderabad to tranquilise the roaming tiger. Locals and staff deployed to cordon the area share that candidates are finding it difficult to campaign in some villages due to the tiger which has been on the prowl in Rahmankhera for past one and a half month. The forest department has failed to trap the tiger despite installing cameras in the area. The forest officers from Awadh division (Lucknow) have also been camping here. The department has spent a sizable amount in its tiger-trapping operation but in vain. Local villagers and the employees of Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture have a consatnt fear of attack from the big cat. Polling in Malihabad is scheduled for February 19. And, there are several villages like Ullaspur and Mandawli which are reeling under the fear of the tiger Chief Wildlife Warden, UP, Mohammad Ehsan, however denied any political pressure to speed up the operation. "There is no such pressure," he said. The entry of shooter from Hyderabad (Name)... has raised fears that the department might be planning to shoot down the tiger. "We hope the department realises its responsibility to tranquilise the tiger safely," said Sanjay Narain, secretary, Tiger and Terrain. Ehsan, however, dismissed this. "There is no plan to shoot down the animal," he said. He o said the department has a very simple plan. "We are focussing on caging the animal. If that does not happen, tranquilising is the next option," he said. On the shooter joining the operation, he said, "It's true he had earlier shot down a man-eating tigress in Faizabad." http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-15/lucknow/31062912_1_tiger-and-terrain-big-cat-chief-wildlife-warden