Royal Bengal Tiger scare in Hatiguda

Bhanjanagar: Panic gripped people in the locality after a Royal Bengal Tiger allegedly killed a cow and dragged it from the cattle-shed of one Brundaban Gouda at Hatiguda village under this police limits in Ganjam district Tuesday night. After the news spread Wednesday morning, residents of Hatiguda and other nearby villages feared to venture outside, Wednesday evening. Sources said, two villagers also spotted the tiger near the embankment of a canal while they were returning to the village from Bhanjanagar on a motorcycle. This is the first time that a Royal Bengal Tiger has been spotted in North Ghumusar forest division in Ganjam district. Sources added that the big cat has been wondering in Hatiguda area in between Mujagarh and Central forest ranges for the last three days. On being informed by the villagers, Forest department officials arrived at the spot. When contacted, DFO Sudarshan Behera said, “There is no accurate information about the movement of tiger in the area. However an investigation is going on in this regard.”