To prevent tiger attacks,Forest dept to arrest trespassers in reserved areas of Pilibhit

“This is not a protected area but a reserved forest land and we can take legal action against people trying to enter. We have been warning the villagers but to no avail. So,we are forced to take strict action. We will book people who are caught by our staff trying to enter forest area,” said Divisional Forest Officer V K Singh.

On August 10,a 55-year-old woman’s semi-eaten body was found inside the Deoria forest range — spread over 700 acres. Though the area has been marked for Tiger Census 2010,this was the first time that there was evidence regarding the presence of big cats in the area.

“This is for the first time that we have seen incidents of tiger attacks in the area. It seems that a young tiger or a group of tigers are trying to expand their territory. So far,the tiger has not come towards the human habitat but is attacking people who are entering its territory,” said Singh. All these incidents have been reported 3 km to 5 km inside the forest area. Perhaps the victims had gone to collect wood or cut grass,he added.

“By mid-July,we had held meetings with the gram sabha,made announcements and pasted posters on school walls. But people continued to go into forest area,” said Singh.

With digital cameras installed to track the movement of the tiger,the department has managed to get a photograph which confirms that it is an adult tiger.

“But we are not sure whether there are more,” said Singh.

Victims since May

May 3: Gokaran Lal of Simraiyan village

June 7: Vedprakash of Pareva Turahi village

June 23: Bulaki Ram of Bhagwatipur village

July 25: Shyamlal of Dephana village

July 27: Jamuna Prasad of Dilawar village

August 10: Rendavati Deoria Kalan village