‘Killer’ tigress tranquillised in Nainital village

NAINITAL: Two days after a 60-year-old woman was mauled to death by a big cat, a tigress suspected to have been involved in the attack was tranquillised by the forest department in Suryagaon village of Bhimtal, officials said.The operation was carried out in the Suryajala area, where Hansi Devi was killed. Acting on a sighting near the attack site on Sunday evening, forest officials deployed a team, including two veterinarians. After tracking the animal for several hours, the tigress was darted late on Monday.Officials said a DNA analysis will determine whether the tigress was responsible for the attack. Samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Dehradun.Divisional forest officer Akash Gangwar said, “The animal has been captured and shifted to the Ranibagh Rescue Centre for observation.”While the capture has eased immediate concern, issues of human-wildlife conflict persist. Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader Narayan Singh Jantwal said such incidents have risen in the region.Between Feb and April 2026, two elderly women were killed in separate tiger attacks in the June Estate and Suryajala areas of Bhimtal. More than six fatalities have been reported in Nainital district in the first four months of the year.The party submitted a memorandum to district magistrate Lalit Mohan Rayal, addressed to the chief minister, seeking measures, including a wildlife disaster management authority, use of drones, thermal surveillance and solar fencing.It also sought higher compensation for victims’ families, govt jobs for one member, and accountability of forest officials.