A MAN, a cow, and a calf were killed by a tiger, in Sati Tola in Pandarwani village of Mirgpur village Panchayat, under jurisdiction of Tirodi police station. Villagers learned of the incident on Monday morning. Shailesh Thakre, a resident of Mirgpur, stated that 50-yearold Devakram Shyamlal Waghmare of Pandarwani village had gone to the forest on Sunday afternoon along with his herd of cows for grazing. When he did not return home by evening, his family members tried to locate him but were unsuccessful, as it was dark hence they returned back. On Monday morning, the family resumed the search and discovered the blood-stained body of Devakram, the cow, and the calf in the forest near the village cremation ground. Tiger pug marks were found nearby, leading to the suspicion that all three had been killed by a tiger. As this news spread, a large crowd of villagers gathered at the scene. On receiving information about the incident, Forest Department officials - including SDO, Katangi Yashpal Mehra and Khairlanji Forest Range Officer D C Vasnik, along with their staff and a police team from Tirodi station, arrived at the site. The villagers vented their anger at the Forest Department officials on their arrival.

 

They complained that when a wild animal kills a human or livestock, the Forest Department merely offers token compensation and considers the matter closed. The deceased, Devakram Waghmare, was a farmer by profession. Officials inspected the site and collected necessary evidence. Following the incident, the Forest Department immediately provided financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the deceased's family. According to Sarpanch Deepak Deshmukh, the Forest Department has stated that a compensation amount of Rs 8 lakh will be provided within 24 hours. Additionally, it has been informed that a sum of Rs 17 lakh will be provided within a month, in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Government. After the incident, the Tirodi police conducted ‘Panchnama’ and necessary formalities, and the body was sent to the Katangi Health Centre for a post-mortem examination. Villagers are panicked following the incident. The Forest Department has intensified patrolling in the area and urged villagers not to venture towards the forest alone. People have also been advised to remain alert and immediately inform the Forest Department if any activity is spotted in the forest area.