Munda tribals petition for sacred site restoration in Orissa

The Orissa High Court is reviewing a petition about the enclosure for tigress Zeenat at Similipal Tiger Reserve. The enclosure is said to cover sacred groves and burial grounds of the Munda tribal community. Justice S K Panigrahi has issued notices to several high-ranking officials, including those from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Forest and Environment Department. The petition was filed by Munda community members from Jamunagarh, who are asking for the sacred grove to be restored to its original state. The community's application for access to these burial and sacred grounds was rejected earlier this year. Advocate Afraaz Suhail is representing the petitioners, while the state is represented by senior advocate Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra and additional government advocate Debasish Nayak. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 25. A week ago, Zeenat was moved to a larger 20-acre enclosure after spending two-and-a-half months in a smaller one. This relocation follows guidelines from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, which aims to provide a suitable environment for the tigress. Zeenat was originally brought from a tiger reserve in Maharashtra and had recently been recaptured after roaming into neighboring states.