Maharashtra government will conduct an 'in-dept' probe into killing of tigress Avni

Maharashtra government Friday constituted a four-member committee, comprising wildlife experts and officials, to conduct an "in-depth" probe into killing of tigress Avni.

state government has come under fire over death of tigress, who was believed to have turned a man-eater and killed 13 people in last two years in Yavatmal district.

big cat was shot de in an operation in a forest in Yavatmal district last Friday. killing of T1, as tigress was officially kwn, led to an outr among animal lovers and wildlife organisations.

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An official statement issued by forest department stated that committee has been formed on directions of Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to conduct an "in-depth" inquiry into death of tigress.

committee is heed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S H Patil. It will include Wildlife Institute of India member Habib Bilal, Wildlife Conservation Trust chairman Anish Andheria and ditional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Nitin Kakodkar, statement said. Kakodkar will also act as panel's conver, it said.

Union minister Maneka Gandhi h lashed out at state government over Avni's killing and dubbed it a "ghastly murder". Avni was mor of two 10-month-old cubs.

Maharashtra government, however, defended itself calling incident "s" but necessary after tigress attacked forest staff trying to tranquilise it.

Opposition NCP dubbed inquiry as an "eyewash". 

Party spokesman Nawab Malik said probe is aimed at giving a clean chit to state government and demanded constitution of a SIT.

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Asked about criticism by opposition, Mungantiwar said he has written a letter to Maneka Gandhi, asking for an independent probe by Supreme Court judges into killing of Avni.

"This inquiry (by SC judges) will happen when it has to happen, but state government has to probe issue at earliest," Mungantiwar said