ANGUL: A day after a man was allegedly killed by tigress Sundari leading to law and order crisis, police on Monday lodged three FIRs against 200 persons, including district BJP president Bhagirathi Pradhan, in connection with Sunday’s violence on National Highway-55.
“We have registered three cases after a mob torched police vehicles and attacked police officials, leaving them injured, on Monday. Another case has also been filed at Purunakote police station by Forest Department,” said Sub-divisional Police Officer of Angul PS, Harihar Pani.
Meanwhile, the tranquillising team is yet to proceed to the spot as palpable tension prevails in the area. The tigress, which is on the prowl in the area, preyed on a bullock on Monday triggering fear among the villagers of Kumuri under Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary limits.
Sundari, according to forest officials, is wandering near Kumuri village. The forest officials had to stop tracking her after being attacked and taken hostage by Tainsi villagers following the death of a fellow villager, Trinath Sahu, on Sunday. Fear still prevails in Tainsi and its adjoining areas due to the presence of the tigress.
“Following the decision to tranquillise the tigress, two teams from Bhubaneswar and one from Similipal reached Angul, but they could not proceed to Tainsi due to the hostile atmosphere. Once the tension subsides, the team along with wildlife experts and doctors will reach the spot for the job,” said V Kartik, in-charge Divisional Forest Officer, Angul, Satkosia Wildlife Division.
After being tranquillised, Sundari will be shifted either to the enclosure at Raigoda in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, where she was kept before being left in the open, or to some other place, Kartik added.The villagers of Tainsi had held nine forest officials, including one ACF captive, on Monday. All have returned except forester Dharmendra Pradhan who has neither returned home nor office, said Pani, adding, “We are concerned about the safety of the forest officer.”
The State Government came in for criticism for failing to post a regular DFO even after bringing two new tigers and was planning to relocate another four from Madhya Pradesh.The district BJP president has denied his involvement in the violence. “It is all motivated and intentional. The violence occurred as the administration did not take people into confidence,” he said.
The post-mortem of Sahu was conducted on Monday in presence of his relatives. On Monday morning, 65-year-old Sahu had gone to the forest on some work when the tigress, which was in the jungle since Saturday evening, pounced upon him, dragged him into the jungle and started eating him.