Pilibhit tiger attack: Panic in village after tiger spotted feeding on man's body; 60th human death in 9 years

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A 50-year-old farmer from Nazirganj village in Uttar Pradesh was killed in a suspected tiger attack late Tuesday night near the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. The incident took place when the farmer, Hansraj, was returning home after irrigating his fields.

According to forest officials, a tiger assailed Hansraj and pulled his body approximately 300 meters into the adjacent Khutar forest, located around 150 meters from the village, news agency PTI reported. His body was found severely disfigured in a field close to the forest edge. This marks the 60th human death in tiger-related incidents in Pilibhit over the past nine years.

Mahesh Kumar, son of Hansraj, said he and some villagers went looking for him when he did not return home. They first found a blood-soaked handkerchief and then spotted a tiger feeding on his body. "We somehow managed to drive the tiger, which was giant, towards the forest by shining torches in its face and making loud noises," TOI quoted him as saying.

“Others had also gone towards the fields, but since my father was on a bicycle, he reached early. That is when the tiger attacked him,” he said.

Mahesh alleged that the tiger had been seen in the area multiple times over the last two days and that locals had alerted the forest department, but no action was taken. “We had informed the department, but no steps were taken to capture or relocate the animal,” he claimed.

Forest officials and police reached the scene after being informed and sent Hansraj’s body for post-mortem early Wednesday. Haripur forest ranger Shaheer Ahmad confirmed that the forest department is investigating and has stepped up patrols in the area.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Puranpur, Ajit Pratap Singh, visited the victim’s family and assured them of all possible assistance from the government. He also said the forest department is now on high alert to prevent further incidents.