Mutilated remains of elderly man found near Similipal, villagers suspect animal attack

Keonjhar: The mutilated remains of a 71-year-old man, suspected to have been killed by a wild animal, were recovered from the buffer area of Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, triggering panic in the villages around Dudhiani forest range under Karanjia forest division on Monday.Deceased Sadhu Nayak of Basantpur village had gone to the forest to graze cattle on Sunday but did not return. Family members and villagers launched a search in the evening but couldn’t locate him.On Monday, scattered body parts — including skeletal remains and two severed limbs — were found inside the forest. The victim was identified from his clothes. Forest officials and Jashipur police reached the spot and recovered the remains.Karanjia divisional forest officer Ajay Kumar Sahu, who had rushed to the site, said the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained. “It is not clear whether it was a wild animal attack or some other cause. The body parts have been sent for postmortem. Teams are tracking the area and monitoring wildlife movement,” he said.The residents alleged an increase in tiger movement in the fringe villages and linked the death to recent incidents of cattle lifting in the area. They staged a protest demanding compensation, adequate safety measures and immediate action to trace the animal, warning of intensified agitation if their demands were not met.Senior officials from Similipal Tiger Reserve, Baripada, along with Sahu, later pacified the villagers.Regional chief conservator of forests, Baripada, Prakash Chand Gogineni also said no conclusive evidence of a wild animal attack has been found so far. “Only two limbs have been recovered despite extensive searches. Samples have been collected for forensic examination. An investigation is on,” he said.Forest, environment and climate change minister Ganesh Ram Khuntia said he has directed officials to conduct a detailed probe. “It is too early to conclude whether the death was caused by a wild animal. The investigation will establish the facts,” he said.