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Maqsood's obsession with tigers led to his death
Somreet Bhattacharya,TNN | Sep 25, 2014, 12.26 AM IST
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Almost 24 hours after his tragic death, the family recollects that it was his new-found love for tigers that had led to his death. A random visit to the zoo sometime in June had got him obsessed with tigers and he often spoke about it to his wife and family members. The visits became frequent after he lost his job as a porter a few weeks ago.
Maqsood had married Fatima, a woman from Kolkata, a year ago. Of late, he had heard about stories of Bengal tigers and how a tiger had mauled two men at Alipur zoo when they had gone to garland the animal back in 1995. "He never told us what was it about tigers that had aroused his curiosity so much but these stories used to excite him and he often shared his experiences at the zoo," said Mohammad Tahir, his grandfather.
READ ALSO: White tiger behaving, eating normally after killing youth, Delhi zoo officials say
Maqsood's friends say that his obsession only grew and he would often slip out of his house in the afternoon and visit the zoo to watch the tigers, and lions. The fact that he had lost his job four months ago gave him ample time. He often told his mother he was going out to look for a job but instead landed at the zoo. He used the little money he had saved to buy tickets at the zoo.
"He had gone there even last Tuesday and told the children stories about the white tigers after his return," said Adil, a friend who owns a grocery shop outside the colony. He said Maqsood had dropped out of school in eighth class and was working as a labourer since then.
His relatives say his death has brought his parents together. They had been living separately for the past few years over some differences. Maqsood lived with his mother, Ishrat, who works as a household help. His father, Mehfuz alias Pardesi, works as a rickshawpuller in Anand Parbat while his younger son, Mehmood, works in Jaipur. "The first thing that came to my mind was to inform my husband about the incident since I have no one else. We went and faced the situation together," said Ishrat.
READ ALSO: Zoo staff had 10 minutes to rescue Maqsood
Maqsood's wife, Fatima, who is seven months pregnant, is at her hometown, Kolkata. It was a harrowing experience for her as TV channels played the mobile clips and pictures of her husband being attacked by the tiger all through Tuesday and even on Wednesday. "She is inconsolable and has fallen ill since she saw her husband on TV and has now left for Delhi," said Tahir.
"He was erratic and had lost his job many times. We took him for treatment to RML Hospital. He was being counselled and was under medication. He had showed some improvement of late," said Ishrat.
Maqsood often angered his employers due to his forgetful and easygoing nature. He had lost his last job of unloading sacks from trucks after he went chasing some animal. That job used to earn him anything between Rs 100-150. His last employer, Lalit, who owns a cardboard making factory at Anand Parbat, said Maqsood would often go and do others' work and leave the sacks behind. "This had annoyed me and I asked him to leave four months ago," he said.
READ ALSO: Six years ago, a man had a lucky escape in Delhi zoo
His neighbours remember him as a happy-go-lucky youth who would rarely speak to anyone and walked around with earplugs. "He did not have a sim card in his mobile phone and used it only to click pictures or listen to music. He also had tigers' picture in his phone," said Satish, a former classmate who also got him a job at a local factory.
Maqsood's body was handed over to his family members on Wednesday afternoon and he was buried at a local graveyard. Delhi Police are yet to quetion zoo officials and record their statements. The zoo protocol is being studied after which the cops will verify if it was followed or the officials were negligent.
Maqsood's obsession with tigers led to his death - The Times of India
.... how about the news channels who showed those pics ? Howe about the millions who enjoyed watching those pictures on TV ? 
..... take a hike Ned Flanders. 
