PICS: 'Man-Eater' Tigress Avni, Who Killed 13, Shot Dead In Maharashtra

NEW DELHI: Tigress Avni, believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 13 people in Maharashtra in the past two years, was shot dead in Yavatmal district of the state as part of an operation, police said Saturday.The tigress, T1, as she was known officially, was killed Friday night, they said.

"Avni was shot dead by sharp-shooter Asgar Ali, son of famous sharp-shooter Nawab Shafat Ali, at compartment no 149 of Borati forest under the jurisdiction of the Ralegaon police station," a police official said. "Avni, who was known in Pandharkawda forest area, had killed 13 people over the last two years in the region," he said.

"The forest officials initially tried to nab her alive. However, due to dense forest and darkness, they were unable to do so and finally a bullet was fired in which the tigress fell on the spot," he said."After she became motionless, forest officials went closer to her and later rushed her to a hospital in Nagpur, where she was declared dead," the official said.

The Forest Department Friday carried out the operation in Borati with the help of sharp-shooter Asgar Ali, he said."Urine of another tigress and American perfume was spread in some part of the compartment, following which Avni came by sniffing it," the official said.