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Avni killing: Probe team questioned

Activists also cited that Dr Habib was himself questioned by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report in the case of the radio collared tiger Jai- who went missing.

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While Maharashtra government has formed a committee to probe into the controversial killing of tigress Avni following a huge public outcry over the manner she was killed, several activists and wildlife experts have now raised doubts over the committee itself.

The State formed committee has PCCF SH Patil as its chairman while APCCF Nitin Kakodkar is the convenor of the committee, which includes Anish Andheria, President of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) along with Bilal Habib from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and they have to submit their report by November 22.

A conservationist said that its strange that a committee has two forest officials along with Scientist Dr Bilal Habib of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) who is working on several projects along with the State at the moment. "How are we to believe that the report by this committee will be unbiased and bring to light the mistakes of the forest department and hold them accountable," he said.       

Activists also cited that Dr Habib was himself questioned by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report in the case of the radio collared tiger Jai- who went missing. "Does Maharashtra or WII dont have any other expert on Tiger that they had to rely on Habib despite him being surrounded in a major controversy. Why did the committee not include any wildlife veterinarian, experts in forensics or even a Wildlife warden. It seems that the forest department has formed this committee just for the sake of it," said an activist.

Meanwhile Habib responding said, "It is upto State to decide. If I have some problem in my teeth I have to go to dentist even if I feel he is not good. I can't go to some gynecologist," he said stating that he worked on tigers in State and may be that was the reason his name was included. "I am committed for the conservation of tigers based on science," he added.

Wildlife Warden Roheet Karoo said that people should wait for the committee's report. "We have to give this committee time to probe and submit its report and if we find that the report does not bring out the facts then we will go all out to demand new committee or probe by investigating agency too," he said.

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