Keonjhar: In another instance of man-animal conflict, three persons were killed while seven others sustained critical injuries at Bhalupahadi Sahi in Khadiadiha village of Keonjhar district on Monday.
The identity of one of the deceased has been established as Naba Kishore Nayak.
According to sources, Nayak had gone to his garden when a wild bear suddenly approached, attacked him and dragged him to a pit.
Hearing screams, Nayak’s sons Premananda and Chandra rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue their father, but were also attacked by the animal.
Forest personnel reached the spot upon receiving information about the incident and tried to capture the animal with the help of some villagers. However, two of the forest officials suffered grievous injuries after being attacked by the bear and were admitted to a local hospital.
Later, two of those injured, including a forest official, succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Following the incident, a group of villagers somehow beat the animal to death.
