There is an atmosphere of fear in the villages adjacent to Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve i.e. VTR in West Champaran of Bihar. The presence of tigers and their attacks have increased people's concerns. The roads on which villagers go daily to collect fodder, the fields where women and farmers work for long hours and where cattle are grazed, are now becoming a cause of danger for them.
The death of three people due to tiger attacks in the last 17 days has further deepened this fear. The situation is such that even daily tasks like farming and taking care of cattle have become risky for the people living near the forest.
Vijay left home to collect fodder but could not return.
On Saturday, a tragic incident took place in Bhedihari village of Valmikinagar range of Forest Division-2. 40-year-old Vijay Haldar had gone to collect fodder for the cattle near his house. He might not have even imagined that this area around his home would become his last journey. Meanwhile, the tiger attacked him, due to which he died.
As soon as the news of the incident reached the village, there was panic. Along with fear, anger was also seen among the villagers. The biggest concern for people is that when tiger activity starts reaching around their houses and fields, then where and how should they do their daily important work.
Attack on Umravati Devi working in paddy field
Earlier on August 1 also, a tiger attack had devastated a family. 45 year old Umravati Devi was threshing paddy in the field in Naurangia Mishraulia Reta of Madanpur forest area. Umravati Devi was the wife of Ramayan Sahni. She was working in the fields as usual, but during this time a tiger attacked her, due to which she died.
The news of the tiger attack on a woman working in the fields spread rapidly in the nearby villages and fear increased among the people. Now a difficult question is facing the families dependent on farming – if going to the fields is not free from danger, then how will they earn their livelihood?
Aklu Yadav who went to graze goats was also attacked
On July 31 also, the tiger had targeted a villager. 62-year-old Aklu Yadav had gone to graze goats in Hathi Malkhanta Sareh, room number T-36 of Valmikinagar range. During this time the tiger attacked him. When Aklu Yadav raised an alarm, the laborers working in the nearby fields came to know about the incident. Laborers reached the spot and saved Aklu Yadav from the jaws of the tiger… but he was seriously injured in the tiger attack.
Death during treatment in Gorakhpur Medical College
Aklu Yadav was taken to Gorakhpur Medical College for treatment in critical condition. Doctors started treatment, but his condition was very serious. Aklu Yadav died during treatment. Thus, in the incidents that took place between July 31 and August 16, three villagers lost their lives due to tiger attacks.
The fear is not only of attack, but also of livelihood.
These incidents have increased the concern of the people living in the villages adjacent to the forest manifold. A large number of villagers in these areas depend on farming and animal husbandry. Working in the fields, cutting grass or taking cattle to graze is their compulsion and also a part of their everyday life… but due to the increasing activities of tigers, these jobs are now turning into danger. The villagers have a double fear – on one hand, the presence of tigers in the forest, on the other hand, going to the fields and areas adjacent to the forest to run their household. Three consecutive deaths have deepened this fear.
Three deaths in 17 days raise concern
After the death of Aklu Yadav on 31 July, Umravati Devi on 1 August and Vijay Haldar on Saturday, there is an atmosphere of fear in the villages adjacent to the forest. Villagers say that if the activities of tigers continue like this around villages and farms, the situation may become more serious in the coming days. People demand that monitoring and security arrangements should be strengthened in such areas, so that people living around the forest do not have to risk their lives for their daily life.
At present, these continuous incidents have definitely raised a big concern – the closer the border between forest and human settlements is coming, the more the risk of conflict between humans and tigers is increasing.