A 40-year-old woman was mauled to death by a tiger in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary's Murtiah forest range in Bahraich district on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 10 am, sparking a dispute between forest officials and villagers regarding the exact location of the fatal attack.
Details of the Incident
The victim, Rita Devi, a resident of Puraina village, sustained deep canine wounds on her neck, throat, and shoulders, along with claw injuries on her cheeks and head. Police have sent her body for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Conflicting Accounts
Locals claimed that the tiger attacked Rita while she was mowing grass for her cattle in a field adjacent to a drain flowing through the core forest area of the sanctuary. However, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Apoorv Dixit stated that evidence collected from the scene indicated that the attack took place inside the forest land, approximately 80 to 100 meters from the periphery.
DFO Dixit explained that forest teams discovered the woman's blood, her water bottle, and a bundle of firewood inside the forest area. In contrast, no blood or tiger pugmarks were found in the agricultural field where the body was later seen. "The ground evidence clearly indicates that the fatal conflict took place inside the forest area," he said, adding that pugmarks identified the animal as a tiger.
Allegations of Body Shifting
Dixit alleged that family members, with the help of locals, moved the body to the agricultural field to claim compensation of Rs 5 lakh, which the state government provides for fatal human-wildlife conflict cases occurring outside forest areas. "We have given monetary assistance worth Rs 10,000 to the woman's husband, Subhash Gautam, on humanitarian grounds to help the family bear expenses for her last rites," he said.
Proximity to Forest
The village is located close to the forest periphery, with human habitation barely 200 meters from the jungle boundary. Dixit noted that villagers frequently enter forest areas, especially to collect firewood, despite strict prohibitions and repeated appeals by the department to avoid entering the forest for their own safety.
About the Author
Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
