Felicitation of the 'killers' of Tigress T1, famously known as Avni, by locals of 19 villages in Yavatmal district has left activists and animal lovers fuming. The villagers presented the award to Asghar Ali Khan and his father Nawab Shafat Ali Khan on November 2, a year after Avni was killed by Asghar.

The 'poor farmers, locals and sarpanch of the 19 affected villages' organised the program, named 'Man Eater Day', to celebrate Avni's death at Wedshi village. The villagers presented a demand draft of Rs 21,000 to the controversial private hunter and his son Asghar for putting an end to the terror created by Avni, who was suspected of killing 13 people.