Madikeri: A tiger killed three cows, including a bred heifer, in Besagur near Madikeri on Sunday, triggering strong protests from villagers and members of farmers’ associations who demanded the animal’s immediate capture.According to villagers, the tiger killed two cows belonging to Bachamada Prakash Rajappa. About 100 metres away, it attacked and killed an eight-month-pregnant cow owned by Ballimada Sampath. Residents said tiger attacks have been recurring in the area for several weeks. Last month, following the killing of cattle belonging to Kokkalemada Dada Somaiah, villagers had staged a symbolic protest seeking action from the authorities. The forest department had installed a camera trap, but the operation was suspended after no movement was detected.The latest incident has sparked a fresh protest, with villagers and farmers’ association office-bearers gathering at the spot for nearly three hours and confronting forest officials. They insisted that the tiger be captured without delay.Acting on directions from Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna, Kodagu CCF Sonal Vrishni visited the spot and said the government had granted permission to capture the animal.Manu Somaiah, president of the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association (Kodagu district), criticised what he termed the forest department’s inadequate response. He urged elected representatives and in-charge ministers to replace officials who, he alleged, had failed to address farmers’ distress.Rajappa said five of his cows had been killed by a tiger over the past two years, adding that constant fear had disrupted farm operations, with labourers reluctant to work in plantations. Another villager, Machimada Ravindra, warned that residents would resort to road blockades and intensified protests if the tiger was not captured soon.
