Tiger kills two farmers in Chimur and Sindewahi, four deaths in six days

Tiger attacks show no sign of stopping in the Chimur and Sindewahi forest ranges of the Brahmapuri forest division in Chandrapur district. A tiger killed two farmers who had gone to work in their fields. The two incidents took place at different locations. Fear and panic grip the villages. Four people have died in tiger attacks in the area in the past six days.

The first incident was reported from Urkudpar village in Chimur tehsil. Sadashiv Khadsang, 55, a resident of the village, had gone to cut bushes in the forest adjoining his field. A tiger lying in wait suddenly attacked him, and he died on the spot.

On receiving the news, Range Forest Officer Kishor Deulkar, Police Inspector Dinesh Labde and Assistant Police Inspector Khobragade reached the spot. After the panchnama was drawn up, the body was sent to the sub-district hospital in Chimur for a post-mortem.

The second incident occurred in Dhumankheda village, under the Navargaon area of Sindewahi tehsil. Patru Ramji Meshram, 58, had gone to work in his field. The tiger attacked him at around 4:30 pm and he was killed.

When he did not return home by evening, his family and villagers began searching for him. The incident came to light during the search. On being informed, Beat Assistant Sidam and a forest guard of the forest department reached the spot. After the panchnama, the body was sent to the rural hospital in Sindewahi.

Earlier, Nanaji Kamble died in a tiger attack at Palasgaon in the Sindewahi forest range on October 24, and Premila Mahadore at Bhendala (Khatgaon) on October 25. Counting the incidents at Urkudpar and Dhumankheda, four people have now been killed in six days.

According to the forest department's preliminary estimate, a single tiger could be behind all these incidents, though official confirmation is awaited. About 50 to 60 forest department personnel are running a search operation with camera traps to track the tiger's movements and find its location.

Villagers are frightened, but as it is the farming season, farmers have to go to their fields. The safety of people has become a major challenge for the forest department.

Range Forest Officer Anjali Borawar said the tiger is constantly changing its location. She has appealed to farmers to take special care while going to fields and areas adjoining the forest until the tiger is tranquillised, that is, sedated and captured.