Tiger kills Maharashtra farmer while he was collecting fodder in Beed
The victim was attacked in the Lokhandwadi-Sonepathar area on Saturday morning during a severe drought.
A farmer was killed by a tiger while gathering grass for his cattle in the Lokhandwadi-Sonepathar area of Maharashtra's Beed district on Saturday, according to India Today. The victim, Devidas (Mahadev) Takle, lived in Deolali village in Ashti tehsil.
The incident occurred around 7.30 am when Takle went to a field to cut grass. His son had already taken one bundle of grass home and returned to the field for more, but could not find his father. After noticing bloodstains and drag marks lasting nearly 450 to 500 metres, the son alerted villagers to search for him.
A search party found a tiger attacking prey near the forest, roughly 500 metres from the field. The animal ran into the forest when villagers raised an alarm, but Takle had died from his injuries. Dada Takle, the brother of the deceased, said his brother was attacked while cutting grass.
Ashti MLA Suresh Dhas claimed the tiger, identified as Ramlinga, had previously killed an animal in the area and was responsible for the fatal attack on Saturday. Dhas said the tiger must be captured and advised residents to stay away from the affected zones.
Ashti Forest Range Officer (RFO) Amol Munde stated a tiger has been in the Ashti and Patoda forest areas since October 17. Munde said the department has increased patrolling and installed camera traps, adding that farmers had been warned not to enter remote valleys or forest stretches.
Local resident Mohan Amte demanded the immediate capture of the tiger and financial aid for the family. He stated that villagers would protest at the Forest Department office if authorities did not act.