Tiger shot dead, 2 policemen sustain bullet injuries

Udhagamandalam: A tiger was shot dead Saturday, eight days after it had killed a worker and triggered panic among the locals in Devarsholai, about 80 KM from here, even as two policemen sustained bullet injuries.

The seven-year-old carnivore had received more than six bullets, police said.

The 53-year-old worker from Jharkhand, Magu was mauled to death by the tiger on March 11 after which three teams, drawn from forest and police departments and Special Task Force, were on their toes to catch it live which had serious injuries on its leg and abdomen and provide treatment.

Over 10 cameras and six cages were installed besides prey animals to catch it and the forces, numbering nearly 150 were monitoring round the clock its movement.

As the STF men noticed the movement of the tiger this afternoon, a section of the combined forces fired from all sides, some sitting atop trees and temporary huts, resulting in the big cat's death around 3 PM, they said.

While Santosh, attached to STF, who sustained bullet injuries on abdomen, was taken to a hospital in Perinthalmanna in Kerala, Ravi, a Armed Reserve police, had injuries on waist and being sent to Coimbatore Government Hospital.

The condition of Santosh is said to be serious, they said.