Seven hurt in wild boar attack, mob kills the animal

Seven persons including two women were injured as a wild boar attacked them in Odisha's Kendrapara district on Saturday, Forest officials said.

The incident occurred when the victims were engaged in farming operation in the agriculture field in Teragaon village under Mahakalpada area of the district, the officials said.

Later angry people captured the animal and hacked it death, they said.

The Forest department has registered a case under the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as the animal is accorded protection under law, said Forest Range Officer, Bijoy Parida.

The animal might have sneaked into the village to eat standing vegetable plants, he said.

The injured persons who were hospitalised are out of danger. The forest department is bearing the cost of treatment of the injured persons. Besides ex-gratia compensation grants will be disbursed towards the injured persons, he said.

Forest personnel have started maintaining night watch and vigil in the village in view of frequent straying by these animals into the human settlement.

The department has constituted night-vigil squad to drive away the wild boar. The villagers have been advised to avoid movement during night, said forest officials.