A 22-year-old youth was killed in a suspected tiger attack on Friday evening while collecting fodder near his village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district.
The incident took place in Narni village, under the Maholi police station area.
The victim, Ravi Dixit, had gone to his field to cut grass for his livestock but did not return home by evening.
When he failed to come back by 7:30 PM, his family members began searching for him. Later, his remains were discovered in a nearby field. Forest officials reported signs of a wild animal attack, including visible paw prints in the surrounding area.
On receiving information, local residents gathered at the spot in large numbers.
Forest Officer K.N. Bhargava, along with his team, reached the site to assess the situation, while the Naib Tehsildar also conducted an inspection.
According to villagers, tracks resembling those of a tiger were found near the scene, raising fears about the animal’s presence close to agricultural fields and human settlements.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Naveen Khandelwal confirmed the findings and said forest teams had been deployed for monitoring and combing operations. “We have taken the incident seriously. Teams are conducting ground checks, and efforts are underway to locate the animal. People in the surrounding areas are being advised to move in groups and avoid venturing into fields alone,” he said.
Authorities have launched awareness campaigns in nearby villages, advising precautionary measures to ensure public safety. The forest department has assured that all necessary steps will be taken to track and, if required, safely capture the animal.