While some of the villagers in Ralegaon and Pandharkawada tehsil of Yavatmal district, near Nagpur, may now heave a sigh of relief that tigress T1, allegedly responsible for killing 13 people, has been shot dead, the legality of the entire operation is being questioned by wildlife lovers.

T1 was shot by Asghar, Nawab Shafat Ali Khan's son; the nawab had been roped in by the forest department to capture T1 a few weeks ago. Wildlife activists think this is nothing but cold-blooded murder. Sources confirmed to mid-day that all the vets involved in the operation had gone back to their rest house after 6.30 pm. So, who shot the tranquilising dart? Now, the operation becomes more challenging as officials will have to capture T1's two cubs alive.