CHIKKAMAGALURU : A woman working as a plantation labourer was mauled to death by a tiger near Panadaravvalli in the Mullayanagiri hill ranges on the fringes of Bhadra Tiger Reserve on Saturday.
The deceased Sumitramma (26) was on her way to work around 8 am when a tiger hiding in a bush pounced on her and dragged her for about 400 metres. Passersby who witnessed the scene started making loud noises to frighten the tiger. Alarmed, it abandoned the woman, who had already succumbed by then, and disappeared into the forest.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (General) Manik and his staff visited the spot and gave `2 lakh to the victim’s family. He said
`3 lakh more will be disbursed after the autopsy.
Irate villagers staged a protest against the forest officials. They alleged that a tigress with two cubs had camped at the same place but forest officials, who had started an operation to send them back into the forest, had suspended it after a few days.
Villagers suspect the same tigress killed the plantation labourer too. They said the incident would not have occurred if forest officials had carried out the operation.
DFO Manik told Express that a 50-member squad has been deployed to capture the tiger. He said a cage has been placed at the site of the incident to trap the tiger and urged plantation owners to take precautions while ferrying workers.
Wildlife activist Veeresh said shortage of prey due to the setting up of several resorts in the area is forcing tigers to stray into human habitations for food.