Two women killed in separate tiger attacks:Villagers demand stronger forest patrols after fatal encounters

Two women were killed in separate tiger attacks in Seoni district on Sunday after venturing into areas near forests. In one case, the tiger reportedly consumed the victim’s head and chest, while in the other, the animal mutilated the body below the waist. The back-to-back incidents have triggered panic among residents of nearby villages. Police and forest department teams reached both locations and urged people to exercise extreme caution in forest-fringe areas. First incident: Woman dragged into forest The first attack occurred in Bijatola village under the Barghat police station area. According to officials, Sevbati Marskole (45), wife of Shivcharan Marskole, had gone to collect gulli fruit from a field adjoining the forest on Sunday afternoon. When she failed to return home for several hours, family members began searching for her. Her body was later found inside the forest. Authorities said the tiger had mutilated the lower half of the body. Villagers claimed the animal dragged her from the field into the forest, and some reportedly saw it near the body before it fled after people gathered at the scene. Second incident: Mutilated body found near agricultural field The second attack took place in the Jamrapani (Jamunpani) Circle of the Gorakhpur Beat under the Kurai Forest Range in the South General Forest Division. The victim, Shanti Bai Kumre (55), wife of Roshanlal Kumre and a resident of Jilapur village in Dhanoli Gram Panchayat, was attacked by a tiger while near a forested area. A search was launched after she went missing on Sunday afternoon. Villagers later discovered her mutilated body in a forest patch adjoining farmland. Officials said the tiger had consumed portions of the upper body, including the head and chest. Villagers demand stronger safety measures Following the two fatal attacks, fear has spread across Bijatola, Jilapur, and neighbouring villages. Residents say tiger movement near agricultural fields and settlements has increased, posing a serious threat to people working in fields and entering nearby forests. They have urged the forest department to intensify patrolling and strengthen safety arrangements in vulnerable areas. Authorities assure compensation and monitoring Forest department and administrative officials inspected both sites after the incidents. Authorities have assured the victims’ families that financial assistance will be provided in accordance with government norms. Forest teams are also monitoring tiger movement in both areas and keeping a close watch on wildlife activity to prevent further incidents.