Is forest dept protectingshooter Asghar Ali Khan?

Nagpur: In a fresh twist to Pandharkawda problem tigress killing, the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Nagpur, has warned the investigating agency — Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) — of returning the samples without any analysis if the firearm and empty cartridge used to kill T1 are not deposited with it.

T1 was shot dead on November 2 night by sharp shooter Asghar Ali Khan in Borati and post-mortem was performed the next day. However, samples were reluctantly sent to RFSL on November 6 after a delay of three days. The preliminary offence report (POR) filed on November 3 didn’t mention any suspects/accused name.

The RFSL, in a letter to the FDCM on November 12, has asked to deposit firearm and empty cartridge, besides all photographs and videography of T1 for ballistic analysis. “The samples would be returned without analysis if these things are not submitted,” says the RFSL letter.

Yavatmal investigating officer and divisional manager Praful Wagh did not respond to TOI calls.

FDCM managing director N Rambabu refused to comment saying he has not seen the letter. “Let me check,” he said.

Interestingly, the November 12 letter has not reached FDCM headquarters even after nearly two weeks.

“Not registering an offence against Asghar, who did not have permit to shoot T1, itself shows forest department is not taking any stand and is buying time. The officials also allowed the shooter to escape Pandharkawda with weapons,” says wildlife lover and petitioner Dr Jerryl Banait. Despite Khan coming twice to Pandharkawda to face inquiry by NTCA and state committees, officials failed to seize the gun and dart projector, he added.

Dr Banait adds, “The officials, who hurriedly called the sharp shooter to gun down T1, should show similar urgency now in sending a team to Hyderabad to seize the weapons.”

“Even if the arms have been surrendered to the police ahead of state elections in Telangana, these can be brought for investigation purpose by the PCCF (wildlife),” he said, adding the forensic department’s stand raises serious concerns over possible go-slow instructions issued to the department for conducting the examination.

Talking to TOI, ballistic experts and shooting enthusiasts, who did not want to be named, said, “When the bullet has been recovered from the body of T1, the calibre of the bullet can be ascertained easily. It is only when you are called upon to identify the specific weapon used to fire the bullet, need of rifle, loaded ammunition and a sample-used shell casing is required.”

Sources confirmed to TOI that a .300 Win Magnum calibre rifle was used by Asghar Ali Khan to kill T1 in stark violation of NTCA guidelines, which mandate minimum of .375 Magnum calibre rifle be used.

The forest department first permitted the shooter to take weapons back to Hyderabad after shooting T1 and is now requesting the father-son duo to deposit the same. “The department’s act of requesting shooter Khan to deposit the correct weapon used to kill T1 is like asking any criminal to give up the weapon with which he committed the crime,” the expert said.

“As of now, the department has no information on the weapon used, details of license and who was the owner of the weapon. The analysis of weapon is being delayed by the forest officials and outcome of inquiries and forensic examination is therefore under cloud,” said Dr Banait.

Karnataka forensic expert Dr Prayag HS, who cracked high profile tiger cases, said, “We should ensure that all forensic reports were ready in maximum three weeks, which helps in conviction of culprits or else justice delayed is justice denied. It is almost 21 days that T1’s samples have been sent.”

What Will Forensic Dept Do

Did the dart had sleeve and its exact spot

Whether blood and urine samples have Xylazine and Ketamine, used to tranquilize T1

Whether it is true that dart was fired from 10-15 metres

Whether the bullet was fired from a distance of 8-10 metre

Whether the dart was fired first or the bullet

T1 did not kill any human after August 28 till it was shot on Nov 2. Can the tigress be called a man-eater?

Was the dart pierced manually