JAGATSINGHPUR: Panic gripped Rainkapatana village of Allipingnal panchayat situated near Niali block after nine sheep were found dead under mysterious circumstances on Thursday night.
Sources said six more sheep owned by Pratap Das were injured. As the news spread, villagers of nearby areas rushed to Rainkapatana and later staged a road blockade at Allipingal Bazaar demanding compensation. Jagatsinghpur police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers.
A team of forest officials and wildlife expert, led by Forest Range Officer Ashok Kumar Jena, visited the village and took stock of the situation.
He said it is suspected that a pack of wolves from Niali area is behind the mass killing of sheep in Rainkapatana. After measures were taken in Niali to trap the wolves, the suspected animals are straying into Allipingal area by crossing river Devi which has no water now. They also advised villagers to keep sheep in the shed that are properly fenced. Chief District Veterinary Officer Premananda Rout said sheep carcass have been sent to hospital for postmortem and injured animals are being treated by a team of officials.