An agricultural worker is suspected to have been killed by a tiger near Haadanuru Vodeyanapura in Nanjangud taluk on the fringes of Bandipur National Park on Tuesday, reminiscent of similar incidents two years ago.
The victim was identified as Nagaraju, said to be in his mid-30s, who was tending to cattle in a farm besides looking after the labourers picking cotton. Sources said he took a stroll along the fence and came under attack by a wild animal late in the afternoon. On hearing the commotion, the other workers raised a hue and cry and the animal scampered back towards the forests.
Eyewitnesses said the men folk working in the field mustered courage and pelted stones and identified the animal as a tiger. It was trying to drag the victim’s body into the forest but escaped crossing the trench.
There were bite marks on the left ear and neck portion and tension prevailed in the village following Nagaraju’s death and senior police officers reached the spot to prevent the situation from aggravating. Assistant Conservator of Forests Poovaiah confirmed to The Hindu that the animal was a tiger as pug marks were found in the vicinity and the nature of injuries on the victim corroborated it. The family members of the victim will be paid Rs.5 lakh as compensation of which the National Park Director S.S. Mallesh handed over Rs. 2 lakh as initial amount on the spot.
