With forest officials gunning down the 'killer' tiger, life in terror-struck villages of Talodhi range in Brahmapuri division is returning to normal, albeit with cattle kills still being reported.
Cattle killings continue unabated even as tiger sightings have been reported in some villages
TALODHI: With forest officials gunning down the “killer” tiger, life in terror-struck villages of Talodhi range in Brahmapuri division is returning to normal, albeit with cattle kills still being reported.
Though the villagers have started moving out after sunset, they are still afraid of do so alone. Eager for a “total solution to the problem”, at whatever cost to the precious big cat, former Govindpur sarpanch Manohar Deshmukh said, “Earlier when the tiger was around, all roads would be deserted after sunset. Though the situation is slowly changing now, no one is completely assured yet.”
Moreover, there are reports of tiger sightings near Owala village, where the animal had killed a 22-year-old youth on November 28, two days before the tiger was slain. This, even as forest officials denied any such reports. When asked whether it was reported, a resident of Govindpur Anand Shende said, “It is of no use. They don’t come to our help.”
Apart from the tiger killings, the villagers face another equally serious problem, that of wild boars. “Since the last one year, wild boars are moving freely in villages, with some even breeding in our backyards,” Deshmukh said.
Also, there is widespread discontent among the villagers, with some like Khatu Meshram yet to receive crop damage compensation since eight years. Meshram’s only cow was killed eight years ago and he is still running from pillar to post for the compensation. “The problem must be solved completely otherwise, villagers will find their own solution to the problem,” cautioned Deshmukh. The divisional forest officer, Brahmapuri Hrishikesh Ranjan said, “Distribution of demand drafts for compensation has already started.”
Meanwhile, the big cat struck again and killed a calf near Sat Bahini lake on December 4. The incident took place when Wamusa Bhoyar from Sonapur village was grazing cattle on the banks of the lake. “I could only hear the sound. By the time I reached the spot, the calf had been killed and dragged away,” Bhoyar said.
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