Tigers keep Pilibhit villagers at bay from polling booths
When the tiger roars, voters quake. The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve authorities have been unable to restrain its growing tiger population and this has become a source of man-animal conflict in the district that goes to polls on April 19.
At peril are those who live in the perimeter of the tiger reserve. It is not uncommon for tigers to stray out of the forest area into the adjoining agricultural fields and confrontation with humans is inevitable. For instance on April 8, a tiger killed farmer Bholeram near Puraini Deep Nagar village while he was working in his fields. Angry villagers demanded protection and compensation for the bereaved family.
The following day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in the Puranpur area, pitching for BJP candidate Jitin Prasada. He expressed his intentions to showcase the splendour of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to the world. However, this declaration failed to resonate with the family members of Bhole Ram and other villagers, gripped by fear of another attack by the big cat.
Paras Rai, a resident of Jamunia village and relative of Bhole Ram, said, "Our lives hang in the balance. We never know when a tiger might emerge from the fields and make us or our children its prey." The village lies along the boundary of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR).
Residents had previously urged the administration to conduct extensive combing operations following a fatal tiger attack on a youth in February. Villagers have witnessed the predator prowling on the outskirts, targeting livestock and instilling dread among all.
The presence of tigers has left the inhabitants wary, with many expressing a reluctance to go out and cast their votes. A resident said, "I cannot risk my safety for the sake of voting."
The fear of wildlife persists across five tehsils in Pilibhit. Of late, the Kalinagar tehsil is experiencing heightened tiger activity over the past eight months. Villages such as Mathna Jabti, Banskheda, Jamuniya, and Puraini Deep Nagar have reported frequent tiger sightings. The big cat has been sighted at Pandari and neighbouring villages, just 12 km from the city centre.
Some villagers like those of Pandhari village have put up banners threatening to boycott the Lok Sabha election if the administration fails to address the tiger menace.
Samajwadi Party candidate Bhagwat Saran Gangwar had visited Bhole Ram's family on April 11, pledging to raise the issue during a political rally led by party president Akhilesh Yadav in the district on April 12.
District Forest Officer Manish Singh noted that villagers often provoke tiger attacks.
Outlining efforts to step up patrols and implement other measures, DFO Singh assured residents that efforts are on to address their concerns. With polls just a day away, authorities are facing mounting pressure to deliver swift and effective solutions to allay residents' fears and persuade them to vote.