BALASORE: Three wild bears literally put two villages in Tudigadia area in Balasore district at their mercy, killing one person and injuring eight on Sunday. One of the bears was beaten to death late in the evening as forest officials remained mute spectators.Sources said the bears sneaked into the village from nearby Debagiri forest during noon. When the villagers tried to shoo them away, the animals turned violent and retaliated.The panic-stricken villagers locked up a bear that entered into one Bhagirathi Nath’s house at Machhada village. Oupada forest ranger Rabindra Mohapatra said the villagers first provoked the bears while trying to drive them away.While Nidhi Mallick (60) of Tudigadia succumbed to injuries in the district headquarters hospital, six of the eight injured persons are battling for life. The two injured bears have retreated into the forest.Villagers, however, blamed the forest officials for the incident. They alleged that the forest personnel did nothing to save the residents from the attack of wild animals.“The officials pleaded helplessness as they had come without tranquilisers,” said Kartika Behera, a villager. The aggrieved residents also resorted to road blockade demanding compensation for the family members of the deceased and injured persons. Vehicular movement was disrupted on Soro-Kupari road for two hours before the agitation was called off following police intervention.The forest ranger said while compensation would be paid as per the government norms, action would also be taken against the people who had killed the bear. An inquiry has been ordered, he added.
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