Tiger spotted at Rangamati, evades capture once again

Kolkata: With forest department officials carrying out combing operation inside the forests of Lalgarh and adjoining areas, the Royal Bengal tiger has once again evaded capture on Sunday morning as some locals claimed to have spotted the tiger at Rangamati in West Midnapore.

The forest department officials are leaving no stones unturned to capture the Royal Bengal that has already injured five persons in different parts in two separate incidents.

Forest department officials have divided themselves in various teams and are carrying out search operations in the forests of Jhitka, Madhupur.

Pugmarks were found in Jhitka forest on Sunday morning by some locals who went into the forest to collect some minor forest produce.

They reported the matter to the forest department officials who conducted an operation in the area but failed to get any trace of the big cat.

Even at Rangamati forest area no trace of tiger was found on Sunday despite rigorous search operation conducted by the forest department. Search was conducted inside the Lalgarh forest.

The Royal Bengal tiger that has been on the prowl in the forests spreading over the three districts -Jhargram,

West Midnapore and Bankura for over a month has given sleepless night to the villagers for which they are scared to allow their children outside home, particularly in the adjoining areas of the three districts.

It may be mentioned that three villagers received injuries after being attacked by the tiger in Baghghora jungle in West Midnapore on Friday afternoon.

Forest department officials rushed to the spot after the locals spotted it inside a pit. Locals who went into the forest claimed that they managed to capture the tiger with a net but it tore the net and fled before the forest department officials reached the spot.

In another development, state forest department has engaged local youth to keep a vigil on the Royal Bengal tiger from tree tops inside the forest areas.

The youth from the forest committee were seen on the tree tops to maintain vigil whose job would be to inform the forest department officials through their mobile phones in case they find any trace of the tiger. They started their work from Saturday.