Sensation prevailed in around 20 villages in Gadchiroli tehsil on Saturday when the menacing tiger killed another person in Jepra jungle. This is the third case in a week and now the toll has gone to 14 in one year.
It is reported that Ganpat Bhandekar, who is a shepard and labourer from Jepra village, had gone to zudpi jungle nearby the village along with his wife in the morning for grazing goats. During noontime, a tiger hiding in the bushes suddenly pounced on Ganpat and killed him on the spot. The jungle is situated just eight km from district HQ. His wife screamed for help and informed others about the incident. Ganpat leaves behind his wife, three sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren to mourn the demise.
It is observed that the villagers from the cluster of villages enter jungle areas even by damaging wire fencing at certain places for collecting firewood, grazing, and either purpose. However, the tiger does not enter the villages but moves nearby. Sunil Limaye chief Wildlife Warden informed that the forest department was making efforts to capture the big cat and sought cooperation from the locals.
