Combing operation on, still no sign of stray tiger

As the Forest Department officials continued the combing operation in the Gosaiganj area on Sunday, the stray tiger still remained elusive.

As the Forest Department officials continued the combing operation in the Gosaiganj area on Sunday, the stray tiger still remained elusive.

There were no reports of its presence, but pug marks were found on the other side of the Gomti, indicating that the tiger may have crossed over to the fields of Bastian village in Gosaiganj area of Lucknow.

8220;Currently, sowing is on in the fields, so any pug marks may have been destroyed. We will track the pug marks around a kilometre ahead of the area in the morning,8221; said AP Tripathi, Divisional Forest Officer DFO, Barabanki.

The combing operation continued throughout the day in Gosaiganj with pug marks being seen at several places.

Senior Forest Department officials said that it is possible that fearing elephants used during the combing operation, the tiger could be hiding in the jungle.

Reports of tiger attempting to once again enter the house of Jamal-Ud-Din, resident of Titapur village where it killed a goat on Saturday, were received. The Forest Department officials, however, said that it was some other animal as the pug marks were different.

Experts visiting the area said the Forest Department should have taken action for trapping the tiger earlier. 8220;There is a possibility that the tiger may have moved ahead. The Forest Department is ill-equipped and there is complete mismanagement on their part in trapping the tiger,8221; said Kaushlendra Singh, Secretary and Convenor of Billy8217;s Arc, wildlife NGO.

Story continues below this ad

Probe begins into tiger8217;s death
Police formally began investigation into the death of a tiger caused by a train in Katarniaghat Forest Range in Bahraich. The investigation was initiated after the FIR registered in Bahraich was transferred to Tikonia police station of Lakhimpur Kheri on Saturday. 8220;Since the place of incident falls under Tikonia police circle, the FIR was transferred to there,8221; said in-charge of the Tikonia police station Yogendra Singh. Four persons, including DRM North-Eastern Railway Ashima Singh, were booked after a tiger, hit by a passenger train, died on September 6.