In Feb. 2021, two persons were killed in tiger attack

Mysore/Mysuru: Fear has gripped the residents of Nalkeri, Choorikadu, Palleri, Kutta and surrounding villages of Kodagu as two persons including an 18-year-old boy were killed by a tiger within a span of 24 hours. Palleri is situated on the Kodagu-Kerala border.

Raju, a 75-year-old farm labourer was killed in the tiger attack at Palleri at 7 am today while 18-year-old Chethan was killed on Sunday in the same area. In fact, Chethan is Raju’s grandson. While Raju was attacked when he came out of his house at 7 am today, Chethan was attacked on Sunday when he was walking along with his father Madhu.

After attacking Chethan, the big cat attacked Madhu, injuring him seriously. Madhu tried to save his son from the jaws of the tiger. Madhu was bit and attacked by the feline with its clawed paw. Chethan, however, was killed on the spot and the tiger vanished between trees. Madhu is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Madhu’s family was staying in the coffee estate owned by Nellira Poonacha at Choorikadu. There have been repeated cases of tigers attacking cows in Ponnampet Taluk and now, two persons have fallen victims to human-animal conflict.

While the villagers are accusing the Forest Department of doing little to prevent attacks except for paying a paltry sum as compensation when a cow or a buffalo is killed, coffee estate owners say that they are not getting labourers to pick coffee in this peak season.

The coffee growers are already facing a labour shortage during the coffee picking season which has been worsened by the tiger menace. Labourers are refusing to work at estates in these areas.

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah is expected to call on Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Bengaluru today urging him to direct the Forest Department to issue a shoot-at-sight order to kill the menacing big cat.

It may be recalled here that in February 2021, two persons including a teenager were killed in Ponnampet Taluk and over 100 Forest Department personnel combed the forests for over a month tracking the elusive feline. It was later found dead inside a ravine.

Nagarahole ACF Gopal and the staff of the tiger operation team visited the spot today and the forest officials are making all preparations to capture the tiger. Superintendent of Police Ramarajan also visited the spot.