Death of vet: Association demands suspension of Tyavarekoppa zoo director

Bengaluru: The death of young veterinary doctor Sameeksha Reddy in Tyvarekoppa zoo took a turn on Tuesday with the family demanding the government to suspend officials for negligence and conduct a fair probe rather than offering ex gratia while the Karnataka Veterinary Association demanded the suspension of the zoo director.

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre, who visited the parents of Sameeksha to express his condolences, received a memorandum from the association and promised a thorough investigation into the incident of the veterinarian killed by a hippopotamus.

Shivasharanappa G Yelagod, president of the Karnataka Veterinary Association, said the director of the zoo, deputy conservator of forests V M Amarakshara, should be suspended immediately.

"The DCF is completely at fault. He has taken her (Sameeksha) in the middle of the night and told her to treat wild animals without providing any protection. Officials are now blaming her to cover up their own mistakes. He should be suspended immediately to allow an impartial probe," he told the media.

Khandre promised action. "I have ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. Sameeksha was a young doctor with a lot of concern for wild animals. We will not let her death be forgotten. We will come up with a standard operating procedure for veterinarians to ensure their safety," he said.

Later, speaking in the Assembly, the minister addressed the allegations that Sameeksha was pressured into treating the hippopotamus that killed her. "As per preliminary information, she went to administer an antibiotic to a bird. Later, she wanted to check on the pregnant hippopotamus. A probe is underway. If any lapses are found, we’ll take action," Khandre said in the Assembly.

The minister also promised to build a memorial in the name of Sameeksha. "The government offered to provide Rs 30 lakh ex gratia. Her parents suggested the construction of a memorial. We will take steps in this regard," he added.

Rajashekhar S, uncle of Sameeksha, told DH that the family wants justice. "It was shocking to see officials blaming her to hide their mistakes. Her parents are not rich enough to decline the ex gratia payment. But we demand justice before anything else," he said.

Meanwhile, the association reiterated its demand for a separate cadre with full-fledged leadership to address the prevailing concerns of the veterinarians who work closely with wildlife.