Man killed by tigress ‘Sundari’: Odisha govt announces compensation

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today announced that it will pay compensation to the family of Trinath Sahu, who was killed by Royal Bengal Tigress ‘Sundari’ in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district.

The State Forest and Environment Department has agreed to pay Rs 4 lakh to the family of Sahu, a 60-year-old daily worker of Tainsi village in the district.

The tigress preyed on Sahu and reportedly mauled him to death when he had gone for fishing in the wee hours of Sunday near the forest.

Confirming the news about compensation, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Sandeep Tripathy, said a special team from Bhubaneswar has left for Satkosia to capture the tigress.

The team comprises professionals from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and doctors from Nandankanan Zoological Park and gun assistants.

He said a final decision (over shifting of the tigress) will be taken after consultation with officials of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun.

Earlier in the day, the local people staged a protest over the death of Sahu and immediate shifting of the tigress from Satkosia to another location. The agitating people pelted stones at policemen.

Angul Sub Collector, Tehsildar and a senior police officer have sustained injuries in the attack. As many as 60 local people were also hurt during the clash with police.

The irate mob had set two police vans on fire and vandalised some other vehicles. Left with no option, the police resorted to lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse the unruly people.

The police later forcibly removed the protestors from the road and restored the vehicular movement on NH-55.