Pilibhit, Nov 12 (UNI) A tragic incident occurred in Pilibhit district when a tiger attacked and killed a farmer guarding his field.
The victim, identified as 47-year-old Chhote Lal from Navdiya village under Puranpur police station area, was dragged into the nearby forest by the tiger. His partially eaten body was discovered on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, Chhote Lal had gone to his fields on Tuesday morning to guard his crops but did not return home for dinner, as he usually did. When family members went to check on him early Wednesday, he was missing. Fearing a tiger attack, villagers armed with sticks and rods began a search operation.
About 100 meters inside the forest, they discovered parts of his body, the lower portion and one arm were missing, apparently devoured by the tiger. Forest officials recovered the remaining body parts within a 200-meter radius and sent them for post-mortem examination. The Forest Department has launched a search for the tiger and set up several trap cameras in the area.
Villagers reported that this was the third tiger attack in the past month in the region spanning Patabhoji, Navdiya, and Hardoi Kala villages. Locals allege that despite repeated complaints, the Forest Department failed to increase patrolling or install cages to capture the tiger.
“Going to the fields at night has become like inviting death,” said village elder Harinarayan. “We have requested the Forest Department several times to take action, but nothing was done.” Forest officers and local police reached the spot after the incident. Pugmarks and drag marks were found near the scene. Officials believe the tiger might have strayed from the Barahi Range of the Tiger Reserve.
The Forest Department has deployed tracking teams and appealed to villagers not to go alone into the fields, especially at night. The process to provide compensation to the victim’s family has also been initiated.
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