Mar 03, Kathmandu- Three local people were injured in a tiger attack on Monday in Fatepur market area of Saptakoshi municipality of Saptari district. Police outpost Fatepur has informed that a tiger attacked and injured three people near Raktamala Tole and Khoriya Tole of Saptakoshi Municipality-1 on Monday morning.

Locals Krishna Bista, 43, Ganesh Khatri, 55, and Rijna Gosai were injured in the tiger attack, said Panalal Chaudhary, Deputy Inspector of Police at Police Post Fatepur. The tiger has clawed the injured on their arms, underarms, and around their eyes. After receiving treatment at the local model clinic in Fatehpur, Bista and Gosai have been taken to Biratnagar for further treatment.

Police Sub-Inspector Chaudhary said the tiger was hiding under a straw mat in Khoriya Tole, and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Office was informed. Local Paras Dahal said a technical team, including the Nepal Army and forest office employees from the reserve, had arrived in Fatepur.

Residents of Fatehpur market have become panicked after a tiger entered the settlement. Minister for Home, Communications and Law of the Madhesh Province Government, Rajkumar Lekhi, has instructed security agencies to monitor the market area and control the tiger and prevent possible damage. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in efforts to control the tiger, informed Dhakendra Khatiwada, Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Saptari.

There has been a conflict between the wild animals of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and the locals for decades. Stating that the tiger has attacked the residents of the area, who have been suffering loss of life and property due to attacks by elephants and rhinoceroses, Dahal said that the local reserve administration and the state should take special initiatives to resolve the issue.