Tension in Ramtek after woman killed in tiger attack

 

 

 

 

Fed-up of repeated tiger attacks in Ramtek taluka in the last few months, a group of anguished villagers launched an attack on forest staff and injured five forest guards seriously on Tuesday late night. This incident was an aftermath of a fatal tiger attack on a woman Nita Buddhu Kumbhare (65) on Tuesday evening. Kumbhare, a resident of Zinjiriya village, lost her life in a tiger attack when she was working at agriculture land situated near the forest. The incident took place in Paoni UC Range of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). After getting the information, Forest Department officials and staff rushed to the spot. However, the irked villagers attacked the forest team. In the attack, forest guards sustained serious and minor injuries. Local police was called to control the situation.

 

The agitating villagers damaged two Forest Department vehicles at the spot. In light of the local residents’ outrage, a meeting was held with the villagers to address their concerns in the wee hours of Wednesday. Superintendent of Police, Nagpur (Rural), the Deputy Director of Pench Tiger Reserve, the Sub-Divisional Officer of Ramtek, and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Ramtek and Saoner attended the meeting. The officials listened to the villagers’ demands and ensured to resolve them. The Forest Department has provided an immediate relief of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased and started the process of providing the remaining compensation. Forest Department personnel, along with the Primary Response Team (PRT), are patrolling the area day and night to prevent repeate of the unfortunate incidents. “It was the fifth tiger attack in Ramtek taluka in last few months.

 

Three attacks took place in Pench buffer while two were reported from territorial area. Among the five attacks, two happened in the same forest area but by different tigers,” Dr Prabhunath Shukla, Deputy Director, PTR told The Hitavada. “There is prima facie evidence that a tiger killed the woman in the same forest area where two such incidents took place earlier. As immediate measure, we have started putting efforts to capture the tiger. A committee has been formed as per the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),” said Dr Shukla. The Forest Department has installed camera traps and erected watchtowers at various locations. All villagers have been instructed to take precautions, added the Deputy Director. In the operation, the Forest Department received full co-operation from the Revenue and Police departments, and local public representatives.