An unruly mob attacked the forest office on Friday night demanding release of two villagers arrested in connection with the death of a tigress. The angry villagers pelted stones on the office smashing window panes, damaged a car parked on the premises and also assaulted two police constables posted on duty leading to the RFO of Mukutban of Pandharkawda forest division Ratnaparkhi opening fire in air to disperse the mob.
According to sources, carcass of a full grown tigress was found floating in a pond in Zari forest area recently. Autopsy report confirmed that the tigress was electrocuted. Accordingly, the forest officials arrested two residents of Pilki Wadhona village — Shankar Sambhaji Kurle and his son Pravin — on Friday on charges of electrifying the barbed wire fencing of their farm which caused the death of the tigress.
As the word about the arrests spread, the villagers stormed the forest office and demanded release of the father-son duo. As the forest officials refused to pay any heed, the villagers started stone pelting and attacked the policemen on duty. In order to bring the situation under control, RFO Ratnaparkhi opened fire in the air. Though the mob dispersed thereafter, the situation remained tense. Additional police force from Wani, Pandharkawda, Maregaon, Patten, Shirpur and Yavatmal has been summoned.
[SOURCE :-indiatimes]
