MANANTHAVADY: A case has been registered against a member of the tiger tracking team who tried to brandish a knife during a clash between locals and forest rangers. Mananthavady police have registered a case against Hussain Kalpur.

The incident sparked controversy when clash broke out between locals and forest officers yesterday, with footage of Hussain trying to grab a knife he had in his waist. The police have registered a case against Hussain Kalpur on the complaint of Akhil Krishna of Paniya Colony.

The police had registered a case against Municipal Councilor Vipin Venugopal following a complaint by the Forest Department Wildlife Warden over the clash between the forest management team and the locals. The Mananthavady Forest Office was blocked off by DYFI activists in protest of the incident.

Meanwhile, tiger footprints were still found near the primary health center in Kurukkanmoola. The tiger entered the forest near the primary health center. Forest officials immediately searched the area but could not find the tiger. The Chief Wildlife Warden and the North CCF are camping in the area.

There has been a great deal of public outrage in the area over the inability to catch the tiger, which has been roaming the populated area for the past 20 days.