The Kokrajhar district administration in Assam has declared a five-kilometre radius around Gelaguri village a prohibited zone following the sighting of a female Royal Bengal tiger believed to have strayed from West Bengal.
In an order issued on November 3, District Magistrate Pankaj Chakravarty invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to impose restrictions in the area. The administration cited concerns over public safety, potential threats to livestock, and the possibility of crowds obstructing the ongoing rescue operation.
According to officials, the tigress was first spotted on November 2 in the forest-fringe region of Gelaguri village under the Dotma Revenue Circle. The sighting was reported by the Divisional Forest Officer of the Kachugaon Division.
The restricted zone covers Gelaguri, East Bongshigaon, West Dangarkhuti, North Bhalukmari, Dangarkhuti and Ghoramari villages. Gatherings of five or more people for the purpose of tracking, chasing or viewing the tiger have been prohibited. Entry into forest and jungle areas within the zone now requires prior permission from the Divisional Forest Officer of the Haltugaon/Kachugaon Division.
Authorities have also banned the carrying of firearms, daos, spears, traps, poison and snares. Activities such as bursting firecrackers, beating drums, using loudspeakers, lighting fires and employing flashlights to trace the animal have also been prohibited, as they could disrupt efforts to safely capture the tigress.
The administration has further barred unauthorised drone operations, videography and photography of the rescue mission. It has also warned against spreading rumours and misinformation on social media, including false claims that the tiger is a man-eater or has been shot.
However, the restrictions do not apply to authorised forest personnel, experts from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), police, magistrates, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and other officials involved in the operation.
The order came into force immediately and will remain effective until the rescue operation is officially declared closed. Violators will face action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Forest and Environment Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon visited Gelaguri village on November 3 to review efforts to rescue the tiger, known as “Duar’s King,” which has been roaming through the region for nearly ten days.
The tiger was spotted resting in a bamboo grove near a paddy field about 10 kilometres from Kokrajhar town. It entered Assam through Raimona National Park after crossing the Assam-West Bengal border and was previously seen in Boragari village before moving through Bwrsijhora and finally reaching Gelaguri.
Officials from both Assam and West Bengal have been jointly monitoring the tiger’s movements and coordinating efforts for its safe capture and relocation. Oraon said the tiger, originally relocated from Bihar to the Buxa Tiger Reserve, is an important animal not only for West Bengal but for the country as a whole.
He expressed hope that the tiger would be tranquilised and rescued safely without injury. Forest officials continue to work towards relocating the animal to a suitable habitat while ensuring the safety of residents living along its route.
