News Reporter
Jakhalabandha, Assam: In a shocking incident, nine individuals from central Assam’s Nagaon district have been booked for pelting stones at a tiger, leaving the animal critically injured and potentially blind in one eye. The tiger, a sub-adult female, had strayed out of the Kamakhya Reserve Forest on November 18, prompting curfew-like restrictions in nearby villages to safeguard both human lives and the tiger.
The Additional District Magistrate of the Kaliabor sub-division, Liza Talukdar, imposed restrictions from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. along the Kolong River banks, spanning seven villages between Debasatra and Miribheti. The measures were taken after the tiger was spotted near human settlements, creating panic among locals.
Brutal Attack Captured on Video
Forest officials and police in Jakhalabandha used videos from the incident to identify and arrest the accused individuals. On November 20, wildlife officials rescued the tiger, bleeding and wounded, near a railway bridge. “People surrounded the tiger and attacked it with stones, causing multiple injuries,” said one of the rescuers.
The tiger was immediately transported to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park, 60 kilometers away. Sonali Ghosh, director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, confirmed that the tiger is recovering but may lose vision in one eye. “We have sought help from Bhupen Sarma, an ophthalmologist from the veterinary college, to assess the damage,” she said.
Public Outcry and Environmental Activism
The incident has sparked outrage among conservationists and local residents. Environment activists have called for strict legal action against the accused, emphasizing the need to protect endangered wildlife. Dilip Nath, a resident of the nearby Sonitpur district, condemned the perpetrators in a letter to Jakhalabandha police, referring to them as “animals on two legs” for their inhumane actions.
Activists are also urging the Forest Department to conduct awareness programs to educate locals about coexisting with wildlife and avoiding such confrontations in the future.
A Threat to Both Wildlife and Human Lives
The tiger's presence in human habitats underscores the increasing overlap between wildlife and settlements due to habitat loss. The curfew-like restrictions, which remain in effect, were necessary to prevent further escalation and protect both the tiger and villagers.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the fragile balance between humans and wildlife. Authorities now face the dual challenge of ensuring justice for the injured tiger and fostering a culture of coexistence to prevent such incidents in the future.