Two farmers killed in tiger attacks in Chandrapur's Chimur and Sindewahi talukas on same day

Two farmers were killed in tiger attacks in Chimur and Sindewahi talukas of Chandrapur district on Friday, October 30. The two incidents, in separate talukas on the same day, have spread anger and fear among farmers and villagers. So far, 38 people have died in human-wildlife conflict in Chandrapur district.

The first incident took place at Urkudpar in Chimur taluka. Sadashiv Chirkuta Khadsang, a 55-year-old farmer, had gone to his field with his wife. At around 12.30 pm, a tiger hiding in the forest near the field suddenly pounced on him. His wife screamed as she saw her husband being attacked, and farmers and farm labourers nearby rushed to the spot on hearing her. By then the tiger had dragged Sadashiv into the dense forest, and he died on the spot.

On receiving the news, Assistant Conservator of Forests Mahesh Gaikwad, Range Forest Officer Kishor Deulkar, field assistants Naitam and Rathod, forest guard Amol Neware and forest staff from Bhisi, Shankarpur and Murpar reached the spot and drew up the panchnama. Chimur Police Inspector Dinesh Labade and Assistant Police Inspector Sheetal Khobragade also visited and inspected the situation. The body has been sent to the Chimur sub-district hospital for a post-mortem. The forest department has immediately given the victim's family cash assistance of Rs 50,000.

The second incident came to light around Friday evening at Dhumankheda, in the Navargaon sub-forest area of Sindewahi forest range. Patru Ramaji Meshram, 75, a resident of Dhumankheda, had gone at about 2 pm to look at the paddy crop in his field next to the village. When he did not return home by evening, his family searched for him. They found his spectacles, walking stick, slippers and bloodstains in the field.

With the help of villagers, the forest department launched a search. Patru Meshram's mutilated body was found near the primary health centre. A tiger had dragged him from the field and killed him.

This is the third death from a tiger attack within a week in Sindewahi taluka. Earlier, on October 24, Nanaji Kamdi of Palasgaon (Jat) was killed by a tiger, and on October 25, anganwadi worker Premila Mahadore was killed in the fields at Bhendala. The continuing attacks have created panic across the taluka.

Paddy harvesting and other farm work are in their final stage, and with tiger attacks rising at this time, farmers and labourers are working at great risk to their lives. Angry villagers have strongly demanded that the man-eating tigers be dealt with, that cages be set up immediately to capture them, and that the forest department step up patrolling and put effective measures in place. Meanwhile, the forest department has appealed to people not to go alone to fields adjoining the forest.