Vijayanagara, 3 March

A shepherd was killed by a bear in the Kudligi taluk of Vijayanagara district. After the incident, enraged villagers beat the bear to death.

The deceased shepherd is Obanna, 30, a resident of Halasagara village in Kudligi taluk.

As usual, on Saturday, Obanna had taken his sheep for grazing in the reserved forest area near Halasagara. However, when he did not return home by evening, his family and villagers began searching for him in the forest.

During the search, Obanna was found lying in a pool of blood deep inside the forest. The bear had mauled his face and other parts of his body, resulting in his death. The sight left his family devastated.

As news of his death spread, the entire village rushed towards the forest.

Enraged, villagers searched for the bear. When they found it, hundreds of villagers attacked it with stones and sticks and killed it.

Typically, in cases of wild animal attacks, a complaint is lodged with the Forest Department. However, in this case, villagers took the law into their own hands.

Officials from the Gudekote Police Station visited the scene. Obanna’s body has been sent for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has been informed about the dead bear, and legal action is being initiated.

Locals said attacks by animals have increased in the region and that the Forest Department has failed to provide protection.