MP minister's kin car hit tigress in Bandhavgarh

NAGPUR: In a new twist to the controversy over the death of a tigress in Bandhavgarh Reserve, TOI learns the incident occurred after a vehicle hit the wild cat. Sources confirmed that the vehicle that hit the tigress was allegedly owned by a resort run by PWD minister of MP, Nagendra Singh. A close relative of the minister's son was in the vehicle when it inadvertently hit the tigress.

Park officials have detained three vehicles. A tourist had told TOI that the death happened due to a collision with a vehicle. Naresh Kadyan, master trainer of Animal Welfare Board of India and a representative of International Organisation for Animal Protection in India, has issued notice to the chief wildlife warden of MP under section 55 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

He has also demanded the sacking of the minister. Kadyan claims that it was Singh's son who was in the vehicle that dashed against the tigress. "Officials are trying to hush up the matter," he said from Delhi. "The minister's son and others have violated the law. Yet the police failed to lodge an FIR against them for violation of section 9, read with 51 of Wildlife Protection Act along with section 428-429 of IPC specifying criminal conspiracy against wild animals or any relevant legislations. The chief wildlife warden has failed to perform his duties."