A farmer was found dead and partially eaten near his home in southern India, triggering a frantic hunt for a suspected tiger as terrified residents demand action before the animal strikes again.
The victim, identified as Balakrishnan, disappeared Saturday night, Aug. 8, after heading into a field near his home to operate irrigation equipment.
He never came back.
According to local reports, Balakrishnan left his home at around 8 p.m. in an area overseen by the Gudalur Forest Division in Tamil Nadu.
When he failed to return, worried residents and forest workers launched a search at around 7 a.m. Sunday.
Hours later, they made the horrifying discovery.
Balakrishnan’s remains were found near the area where he had been working, with evidence suggesting he had been attacked and partially eaten by a large animal.
Forest officials later said his injuries appeared consistent with a tiger attack.
Now authorities are racing to find the big cat before another person is killed.
Officials have deployed drones and live camera traps across the area in hopes of tracking down the animal believed to be responsible.
The Gudalur Forest Division also said immediate financial assistance would be provided to Balakrishnan’s grieving family.
But the promises did little to calm frightened residents.
Locals staged a protest Sunday, demanding stronger government action to protect people living near areas where dangerous wildlife roam.
Town organizer R. Ranjith warned that the suspected tiger may still be lurking nearby — and could pose a deadly threat to other residents.
“The Forest Department should closely monitor the big cat and take concrete steps to prevent another such incident,” Ranjith said, according to The New Indian Express.
He also issued an alarming warning.
“There is a high likelihood that the tiger could become a man-eater,” he said.
The deadly encounter has renewed fears about human-wildlife conflicts in communities bordering forested areas, where residents can unexpectedly come face-to-face with some of India’s most powerful predators.
For now, officials are continuing their search as residents wait anxiously to learn whether the suspected tiger can be located before another attack occurs.