A fatal tiger attack on Sugna Devi, a 42-year-old female labourer, at Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur on Wednesday morning has triggered a tense standoff, with the victim's family and villagers blocking the postmortem and demanding ₹1 crore in compensation, government jobs for her two children, and the registration of an FIR against those responsible for the alleged safety lapse.

How the Attack Unfolded

The incident occurred at approximately 9 am at Enclosure No. 16 of the park, where Sugna Devi and six other female labourers had entered to cut dry grass and carry out routine cleaning work. According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary information, the tiger — identified as 'Shivaji' — allegedly entered the working area after a safety gate, locally referred to as the kral or karal, was unlocked.

The women reportedly spotted the tiger approaching and raised an alarm. Five workers managed to flee the enclosure, while a sixth climbed a nearby tree to escape. Sugna Devi reportedly attempted to save herself by scaling the enclosure's iron mesh. The tiger caught her leg, pulled her down, and inflicted fatal injuries.

Alleged Safety Lapse at the Centre of Inquiry

According to the preliminary account, the enclosure gate was unlocked by a forest guard without first confirming that all workers had exited the area — a step that investigators are now examining as a potential violation of prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Forest Department has ordered a departmental inquiry to determine the exact sequence of events and establish whether there were lapses in supervision or security arrangements before the gate was opened.

This incident raises serious questions about the enforcement of safety protocols for contractual labourers working inside active wildlife enclosures — a concern that wildlife management experts and labour rights advocates have flagged at other facilities across India in recent years.

Protest Outside the Park

Following the attack, family members and villagers from Nagal Susawatan village in Jamwaramgarh gathered outside Nahargarh Biological Park and staged a protest. The demonstrators have put forward four key demands: ₹1 crore in financial compensation for the deceased's family; government jobs for both of Sugna Devi's children commensurate with their qualifications; immediate registration of an FIR; and punitive action against staff members found responsible for the alleged safety failure.

The family has refused to allow the body to be taken for postmortem examination until their demands are addressed. Senior police and Forest Department officials have been deployed outside the park to manage the tense situation, and officials are reportedly attempting to persuade the family to permit the body to be shifted to SMS Hospital for the procedure.

Department's Offer Rejected

The Forest Department has offered ₹10 lakh in compensation along with contractual employment for both of the victim's children. Protesters have rejected the offer outright, insisting it falls far short of their ₹1 crore demand. The gap between the department's offer and the family's demand — a factor of ten — underscores the depth of the grievance and makes a swift resolution unlikely without senior government intervention.

What Happens Next

The departmental inquiry is expected to establish the precise chain of events and assign responsibility for any negligence or protocol violation. Whether the inquiry's findings lead to criminal proceedings will depend on whether investigators conclude that the gate was opened in wilful disregard of safety norms. The family's refusal to allow the postmortem adds a legal dimension, as authorities require the procedure to formally certify the cause of death and proceed with any compensation or judicial process.