Niali: The fatal attacks on sheep in Niali block of Cuttack district continues, with the as-yet-unidentified creature(s) killing two more sheep and injuring two others Sunday night.
While the series of killing of sheep over the past two months has been giving sleepless nights to the region’s farmers, the district administration as also forest department officials are cutting a sorry figure, they being unable to act effectively in either identifying the creature(s) or stopping its menacing advances.
Sources said the mysterious creature(s) entered the shed of Kailash Mallick at Olansa village Sunday night, killed two sheep and injured two more. The injured sheep are stated to be critical. Niali veterinarian Shasank Sekhar Nayak rushed to the village and treated them. Sources said Mallick is a poor farmer and maintains his family by rearing sheep. So far, the unknown creature(s) entered his shed thrice and killed 11 sheep.
“In the first attack, the mysterious creature(s) killed my seven sheep while two sheep were killed in the second attack and two more died in the attack Sunday night. I was planning to build a house by selling the sheep, but these killings have dashed my hopes,” Mallick said.
Forest department officials are at their wits’ end, and virtually groping in the dark. They had announced that the unknown creature(s) would not visit the villages for a second time. The officials had also claimed that the creature would not visit sheds having lighting facilities. This also proved to be wrong.
Forest and environment minister Bijayshree Routray said, “As per present norms, there is no provision to compensate such sheep deaths. However, I will request CM Naveen Patnaik to compensate the sheep owners through other schemes.”
Some locals, media persons and forest department employees claimed to have spotted a group of seven creatures at Olansa village Monday morning, but could not nab them. A woman first spotted the creatures and informed the officials. It was not clear whether these were the ones behind the killing of sheep.
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