Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced an award for the forest department team that successfully trapped the royal Bengal tiger which had entered human habitation at Kultali in South 24-Parganas last Thursday, unleashing panic among residents.

She also congratulated police for their support. “You have all done a great job and relieved people of panic,” the chief minister said at an administrative meeting in Gangasagar on Wednesday.

Earlier in the morning, the adult male tiger was released safely at the Dhulibhasani jungle’s 4th compartment located under Ramganga range, said divisional forest officer Milan Kumar Mondal.

Responding to Mamata’s words of praise for his team and the award announced by her, Mondal said: “We examined the tiger's health. It was found alright and we released it at 6.55am today (Wednesday).”