Rairakhol: In the last two days, three people have been killed by a bear at Baniabandh village under Badabahal range in Sambalpur district.
The bear is said to be ‘avenging’ the death of her cub.
As of now the villagers are in a state of panic. Blaming the forest department for this man-animal conflict, the angry villagers Monday afternoon assembled at the middle of the village to decide the future course of action. On being informed, Rairakhol sub-divisional police officer Hadibandhu Swain, Rairakhol inspector-in-charge (IIC) Prashant Samal, range officer Pragnyaparamita Deep, Zilla Parishad member Pradeep Prdhan and Badabahal sarpanch Santosh Mirddha rushed to the village and held discussions with the infuriated villagers. The villagers demanded compensation to the kin of the deceased and medical expenses for the injured. They also sought reply as to what steps the forest department was going to take to provide safety to the villagers from the aggressive bear.
The forest department promised Rs 4 lakh compensation as per government rules for the deceased’s families. The officials asked the villagers not to go into the jungle for a week. They said the department would use public address system to make people aware of the restrictions. The officials also promised the department would take steps to relocate the savage animal after tranquilising it.
“If the forest department goes back on its promises, we will be forced to gherao the department’s office,” threatened the villagers.
According to the villagers, five persons had gone into the nearby jungle to collect honey Sunday. There they had come face-to-face with a wild bear. The animal had killed two and injured one. The deceased were Cheru Munda (55) and Krushna Munda (50). Ashadhu Munda, the injured one, is undergoing treatment at VIMSAR, Burla. In the man-animal conflict, a two-year-old male bear cub was also killed.
Not knowing about the presence of the bear in the jungle, Suresh Naik and Agasti Naik again went into the jungle Monday afternoon. While they were passing through the same spot where the conflict had taken place, the bear came from nowhere and attacked Suresh Naik, causing his death on the spot. However Agasti managed to run for cover. The villagers are convinced that the bear is avenging her cub’s death.
Police sources said the body will be handed over to the family Tuesday after post-mortem at Rairakhol government hospital.
PNN