At least eight people were killed in separate incidents after being attacked by a wild bear on Saturday and Sunday at Andiramunda forest under Kotapad block in Koraput. Irate mob stoned the bear to death.
According to District Forest Office (DFO) laxmidhar Mishra, some women had gone to the jungle on Saturday morning to collect firewood, when the bear attacked them killing one woman on the spot.
On the same day, in another incident, two brothers were attacked by the rouge bear in the forest. The duo who sustained grievous injuries was rushed to the nearest hospital. However, Sukuman Jani died during treatment, while his brother was shifted to Jeypore Sub-Divisional Hospital, after his condition grew critical.
In yet another incident on Saturday, one Durjan Keuta was killed by the bear in the same forest.
Continuing its killing spree, again, the bear attacked a couple who were sleeping on the verandah of their house at Girla village under Kotapad block on Sunday morning. The husband died on the spot after being mauled by the bear, while his wife succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Similarly, another three were also reportedly killed in the village by the same rouge bear.
On being informed, the Forest officials rushed to the area and tried to tranquilise the bear but in vain. Rattled, Nabarangapur MP Pradip Majhi too rushed to Kotapad.
“We tried our best to tranquilise the bear. But unfortunately, the irate locals stoned the bear to death on Sunday,” said DFO Mishra. He also said Rs 2 lakh compensation would be provided to the kin of the each deceased.