Tiger kills man in Belagavi

A tiger today killed a 20-year-old man near Jamboti village of Khanapur taluk, about 40 km from here, officials said.

The tiger had been creating scare among villagers since last one month and has killed many animals from villages.

People from surrounding villages have been protesting against alleged "inaction" of the Forest Department and police in catching the tiger or eliminating it.

Speaking to PTI over phone from Jamboti, Belagavi (Rural) Superintendent Ravikantegouda said the agitated villagers were not allowing post-mortem of the victim's body and final rites but after persuasion, the body was cremated.

Ambadi Madhav, Forest Conservative Officer, Belagavi, said from a site near the incident that an expert team is arriving from Bandipur Reserve Forest with elephants for operation tiger. Sharp shooters from the Army have also been engaged, he said.

A special task force team and thermal image team also had left Bengaluru for the operation, he said. The forest department will try to tranquilise the animal, he said.