Tiger Attack Claims Farmer’s Life, Sparks Road Blockade in Valmiki Reserve

Patna, August 15 – A fatal tiger attack occurred on Saturday in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve’s Valmiki‑Nagar forest range, resulting in the death of 45‑year‑old farmer Vijay Haldar. While working near South Tola close to Bhedihari Chowk, the farmer was ambushed by a tiger that had strayed from the forest, leading to his immediate death.

The shocking event ignited widespread anger among the nearby villagers, who converged on the Valmiki‑Nagar‑Bagha highway, placing the road under a complete standstill. Protestors displayed the deceased’s body on the carriageway, further disrupting traffic flow.

Local residents accused the forest department of negligence, pointing out that warning notices about tiger presence near the settlement had been issued in recent days without any corresponding safety measures.

During the demonstration, a forest‑department vehicle was flipped over, and reports indicate that a forest guard was physically assaulted by the crowd.

Law‑enforcement officials, including Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Chandni Kumari, Sub‑Divisional Police Officer Nihar Bhushan, and Special Service Bureau Assistant Commandant Avdesh Kumar, arrived with police and armed personnel. Additional units from Valmiki‑Nagar, Naoringa, and Laukaria police stations were called in to restore order.

After dialogue with the protesters, officials promised that the victim’s family would receive the compensation prescribed by government regulations and that a member of the family would be offered employment within the forest department. The protesters withdrew and cleared the road following these assurances.

Ranger Satya Kumar of Valmiki‑Nagar stated that the compensation process has already been initiated and that recruitment for a suitable position for a family member is underway. A comb‑through operation is currently being conducted to locate the tiger involved in the attack.

Forest officials continue to survey the region, tracking the movements of tigers to prevent any further incidents. This attack has amplified the concerns of residents living in proximity to the reserve.

The incident follows a similar attack about two weeks ago in which a 62‑year‑old farmer, Akalu Yadav, was mauled while shepherding goats, sustaining critical injuries that led to his death during treatment. Earlier, a woman working in a rice field in the neighboring village of Naoringa also succumbed to a tiger attack.