Outrage as Mob Takes Justice into Own Hands, Slaying Bengal Tiger in Assam

The killing of a Royal Bengal tiger by a mob in Assam has sparked outrage, as it underscores ongoing conflicts between wildlife and human communities. Forest officials reported that the tiger, deemed a threat after killing livestock, was attacked and dismembered by villagers. This incident marks the third tiger killing in the region in 2023, raising alarms over conservation and habitat issues.

In a distressing turn of events in Assam, India, a mob has killed and dismembered a Royal Bengal tiger, according to local forest officials. The incident occurred in the Golaghat district, where villagers took drastic action after the tiger allegedly threatened their livestock and safety. Following the incident, the Assam forest department has initiated an investigation and registered a case against those involved.

Forest officer Gunadeep Das informed the Times of India that the tiger suffered sharp wounds in the attack, rather than gunshot wounds. Reports indicate that up to a thousand people gathered to confront the tiger, with some using machetes in the brutal attack. The tiger's remains were later retrieved for an autopsy, as the tragic aftermath unraveled.

Lawmaker Mrinal Saikia condemned the barbaric act, sharing disturbing footage of the deceased tiger on social media. "This is a very painful act. The Earth is not only for humans; it is for animals as well," he wrote, advocating for accountability towards the perpetrators of this barbarity. Another forest official, Sonali Ghosh, noted that the origins of this particular tiger remain uncertain, but its killing occurred approximately 20 kilometers from the renowned Kaziranga National Park.

Latest statistics from Assam's forest department reflect a resurgence in tiger population, increasing from 70 in 2006 to 190 in 2019, largely due to effective conservation measures. However, reports of tigers being killed by human communities reveal the ongoing struggles amid shrinking habitats and inadequate protection of wildlife corridors between parks. India's Wildlife Protection Act (1972), which safeguards tigers from poaching, hunting, and trade, faces significant challenges as man-animal conflicts persist in the region.