Sakhi killing: zoo curator shifted

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, OCT. 16. The curator of the Nehru Zoological Park, Mr. B. Trinadha Rao, has been shifted from his post, and the Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Mr. A.V. Joseph, asked to look after the zoo affairs.

Action is also likely to be taken against Mr. T. Ramakrishna, Chief Wildlife Warden and Additional Principal Conservator of Forests, for the delay in passing on the information pertaining to the killing of the tigress, Sakhi, to the Government. No fresh posting has been given to Mr. Trinadha Rao.

Meanwhile, senior IAS officer, Mr. A.V.S. Reddy, appointed to enquire into the gruesome incident, categorically stated that "an insider was very much involved in the killing and skinning of the tigress." In his 13-page report to the State Government here on Monday, he also said that a professional gang might be involved in the crime.

The one-man commission was set up on October 10 to look into the security lapses by the zoo staff and their possible involvement in the crime, reasons for the delay in the report reaching the Government and also to suggest an action plan for better management and upkeep of the zoo.

Though the report was to be submitted within three days, Mr. Reddy sought more time. He finally presented the report to Mr. S.V. Prasad, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu. A safe zone between the Nehru Zoological Park and the habitations abutting it and more importantly, removal of encroachments were some of the suggestions made by Mr. A.V.S. Reddy.

With the wild goose chase to catch the poachers of `Sakhi' still continuing cluelessly, the class IV employees of the zoo are getting restive over the alleged "selective harassment" being meted out to their colleagues by the investigating agencies.

Though Monday was a holiday for the zoo, they met and discussed the future course of action to be adopted by them. The general consensus was that they were being "unfairly targeted" while the senior officers were being left to go "scot-free".

"Four of our colleagues were suspended and some more are being interrogated by the police. And, so far no charges have been framed against them," one employee pointed out. "Enough is enough. It is high time we make our protest be heard by the officials. How long can we live under these stifling conditions," one employee fumed.

Later, a delegation of the employees under the aegis of the A.P. Junior Forest Officers Association met Mr. B. Trinadha Rao and submitted a memorandum seeking the reinstatement of the suspended employees and an end to the police interrogations. Mr. Rao said that he would revoke suspensions as soon as the police completed their investigations. Later in the day, the authorities slapped transfer orders on him.

Police teams continued to make their rounds of the park on Monday also.

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Section  : Southern States
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