Patana: Panic gripped people in Khilaripata Nuagaon village under Saharpada section and Patana forest range in Keonjhar district after a bear ran amok and critically mauled four persons Monday. All the injured persons are undergoing treatment at the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital. The injured persons have been identified as Birbal Mohanta, 55, and Manglu Behera, 30, of Badanuagaon village, Ramachandra Parida, 35, of Khilaripata Nuagaon village and Sarat Chandra Mohanta, 40, of Purunapani village. The incident sparked tension among the villagers as Forest department officials rushed to the spot to track the movement of the animal.
Locals alleged that the bear strayed into the village as ‘mohua’ flowers are ripening. They demanded that Forest officials catch the animal and take it away to a different place as it may attack people again in the future. The bear first attacked Birbal and Manglu who had gone to Baratania village to purchse bullocks. They were returning home on their bicycles when the bear came out of a cashew orchard and attacked them.
Other villagers rushed to the spot hearing the agonising screams of the victims. The bear ran back into the orchard as locals pelted the animal with stones. While fleeing, the bear came face to face with Ramachandra and attacked him. Sarat and his daughter also came on the path of the marauding animal. While Sarat was mauled, his daughter managed to flee. Locals said that the bear has taken refuge in a forest close to the village. Patana forest ranger Ghashiram Patra said they are tracking the movement of the animal in an effort to catch it.