CHANDRAPUR: A tigress mauled Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) jawan and a villager during an operation launched to drive the feline away at Palasgaon village in buffer forest of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on Wednesday morning.
The tigress having two cubs aged around 11 months old had killed a calf in cattle shed at the farm of one Sadashiv Mohurle in Palasgaon on Tuesday evening and stayed overnight devouring the prey in nearby shrubs.
One Ramesh Meshram saw the feline family resting in the shrubs close to the village pond on Wednesday morning and raised alarm.
While foresters of Palasgaon range and STPF personnel rushed to the spot, a large number of villagers had gathered to have a glimpse of the feline family.
Forest officials with the help of STPF began operation to hush away the tigress and its cubs from the place.
While loud din was raised to drive the feline away towards forest, the tigress charged on those involved in the operation.
The beast mauled villager Shankar Bansod (60) and STPF jawan Sunil Gajalwar, 31.
The operation to drive away the tigress came to a halt following the incident.
Both the injured were rushed to Chimur rural hospital and then referred to Chandrapur GMCH for treatment.
CCF and field director Jitendra Ramgaonkar said villager Charandas Bansod was discharged after treatment, while STPF jawan is being treated in Chandrapur.
He cautioned people not to venture close to the place where the tigress and the cubs are sheltered in shrubs.
The CCF claimed that forest guards have been posted at the spot to keep vigil on the situation, while senior forest officers are planning to take up further operation to drive the feline family away.