Nanjangud/ Hunsur: A farmer, who was grazing his cattle in the fields, was reportedly killed when a tiger attacked him. Two others, who were also grazing their cattle managed to escape.

The incident took place near Odeyanapura village in Nanjangud taluk, bordering Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

The deceased farmer has been identified as Puttaswamygowda (45), a resident of Odeyanapura village. The tiger, after killing Puttaswamygowda, attacked his cow and also killed it.

The tiger attacked Puttaswamygowda and the cow killing them near the village which has caused tension among the villagers, who are now living in a sense of fear.

Puttaswamygowda, along with Sunil Kumar and Nagarajegowda, was grazing cattle at the field near Nanjadevara Betta, adjacent to the village, when the tiger, which was hiding amidst tobacco crops, attacked them.

While Sunil and Nagarajegowda managed to flee from the spot and screamed for help, the tiger killed Puttaswamygowda and his cow. The tiger also tried to attack Sunil and Nagarajegowda but they fled in different directions thus saving themselves.

The tiger, which left the body of Puttaswamygowda, devoured a part of the cow before fleeing towards the forest. Soon, villagers, who came to the spot, managed to calm down Sunil and Nagarajegowda, who were in a state of shock, provided them water and stood guard around the body of Puttaswamygowda.

As the tiger had fled into the forest, the Forest Department personnel were unable to confirm the presence of the tiger but as there were pug marks and the marks of the tiger’s canines on the victim’s head, it was confirmed that the tiger had attacked and killed the farmer  and his cow.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve Director Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Hediyala Range Forest Officer (RFO) Manjunath and staff conducted an inspection during which the villagers expressed  their anger.

Following assurance from the Forest officers regarding the safety of villagers, the residents of the village calmed down and later, the Forest staff conducted mahazar and shifted the body of Puttaswamygowda to a hospital for post-mortem.

The Forest officials then took the signatures of the victim’s family members on the documents to provide compensation. Veterinarian Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Hullahalli Sub-Inspector Krishnakanth and others were present.

Following the tiger attack, the members of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), staff of various forest ranges, Forest Watchers and others were deployed at the spot of the tiger attack overnight. Also, camera traps have been installed at various vantage points to observe the movement of the tiger.