Udhagamandalam: After a gap of five days, the tiger, which has so far killed three persons, was seen in a village in the district early Monday, dragged away a cow but operations to capture it were being `hampered` by NGOs, forest department sources said.
Following the incident, irate villagers of Kappachi and surrounding areas demanded that officials immediately capture or eliminate the feline, but NGOs` representatives said it should not be killed.
The sources said operations to nab the animal have been intensified amid reports that a school boy had spotted it behind a bush yesterday while playing cricket. Nearly 300 personnel, including snipers and Special Task Force were on the job, they said.
However, their operations were hampered due to intervention of representatives of NGOs, who were moving along with them and objecting to killing the animal, they said.
The sources said they could shoot dead the tiger in 24 hours if they get orders from senior officials. Only the Chief Wild Warden has the authority to issue orders or the Chief Minister could intervene and issue a directive, considering the problem, they said.
Police said 17 schools in the area ordered shut by officials reopened today, but attendance was nil and estate workers also remained indoors, fearing for their lives.
Meanwhile, CITU local unit today decided to stage a picketing here on Jan 25, seeking immediate capture or elimination of the tiger, since the livelihood of more than 1,500 villagers was at stake.
The villagers would urge forest and revenue departments to put an end to the problem and save them from the disaster, CITU local unit secretary Badri said.
The three persons, including two women, were killed early this month by the tiger within a six-day span.
