Bear attacks villagers in Orissa, two injured

ROURKELA: Two villagers were injured, one of them critically, when they were attacked by a bear in Rukha forest of Orissa, police said on Monday.

Two villagers, Bhakta Toppo (45) and Madri Lakra (42), of Gambharidihi village, 45 km from here, were attacked by a bear in the forest on Sunday when they were collecting firewood, police said.

The bear first attacked Madri and when Bhakta came to his rescue, he was also attacked.

Both were admitted to Rourkela government hospital, police added.

A wild bear was gunned down at Sunduria village in Mayurbhanj district on May nine after it mauled 12 people including police and forest officials.

Permission was taken by the police from the wildlife wing of the government to shoot down the bear, which was terrorising the people.

On April 30, forest and police personnel had gunned down another bear in Nawrangpur district after it killed five people.