OFFICIALS FACE WRATH, CONFINED IN A HOUSE;

Madikeri March 14, 2008

The forest officials are in for trouble in Kodagu as the tiger continues its attack unabated; Range Forest Officer Gajanana Bhat and his staff were confined in a house yesterday as a tiger killed another buffalo in South Kodagu.

A buffalo belonging to one Annira Madappa of T.Shettigeri was killed by the tiger in its shed in the wee hours yesterday. Tiger disappeared in darkness as the workers began to shout hearing the cries of the buffalo.

RFO and his staff arrived at the spot by afternoon to inspect the spot and came under heavy abuse. Villagers rounded up officials and did not allow them to leave the spot. They demanded that their higher ups should come and return only after capturing the tiger.

RFO Nagarajachar from Tithimati arrived at the spot and tried to convince the public in vain. They did not heed to his explanations and said that they need only action. Police force from Srimangala arrived at the spot and threatened to arrest people if they do not free forest officials. The adamant crowd asked the police to register case and did not allow officials to leave the place.

The officials are spending the whole night in the house of Annira Madappa. People are demanding that the department should use tranquilizer.

DOG BITES BOY TO DEATH;

In a bizarre incident, a fourth standard student was killed by his own dog at his house.

Bhuvan Bopanna, 11, was fond of his German shepherd dog and would feed it with snacks after his return from the school and would play.

Yesterday turned out to be a black day for him and the parents Balluda lava and Mamatha . The boy returned from school in the evening along with his sister. He went straight to the dog to play. The dog strangely turned violent and held him at his neck and bit him furiously. A profusely bleeding boy died on the spot. The wailing parents said that the dog used to be very friendly with the boy.

“BANDH SUPPORTED BY POLICE”

The BAR association of Virajpet has termed the bandh called by public at Siddapur and Pollibetta yesterday was sponsored by police in support of the suspended SI Santosh.

The association secretary Nanaiah in a statement has said that police barricades were used to block roads, bandh and road blocks were illegally supported by them.

Nanaiah’s comment came as different organizations held Siddapur bandh, followed by Pollibetta and also road blockade.

Meanwhile, a writer Geetha Mandanna spoke to this correspondent and said that the protestors were rude with them as they were traveling to visit a death house. So far, people were not being blocked their way to weddings and deaths, but yesterday people were behaving differently putting to shame the culture of Kodagu, she said.