Drought-hit Maharashtra farmer mauled to death by tiger while collecting fodder

A tiger mauled farmer Devidas Takle as he collected cattle fodder in Beed. The killing renewed villagers' demands for the animal's capture and stronger preventive action.Beed,Nov 8, 2026 03:38 ISTA farmer was mauled to death by a tiger while collecting fodder for his cattle in Maharashtra's Beed district on Saturday, in a tragic incident that has sparked fresh anger among villagers over repeated big-cat attacks in the region.The victim, identified as Devidas (Mahadev) Takle, a resident of Deolali village in Ashti tehsil, was attacked around 7.30 am in the Lokhandwadi-Sonepathar area. His death comes amid a severe drought in the region, which has forced farmers to venture into forest areas in search of fodder for their livestock.According to preliminary information, Takle had gone to a field to cut grass for his cattle as fodder camps had not yet been started despite the drought. He had prepared the first bundle of grass when his son took it home and returned to the field to collect another.However, the son could not find his father when he returned. He noticed bloodstains scattered across the field and drag marks extending for nearly 450 to 500 metres. Alarmed, he alerted villagers, and a search was launched by following the blood trail. The search party eventually spotted a tiger attacking its prey near the forest, around half a kilometre from the field. The animal fled into the forest after the villagers and Takle's son raised an alarm, but the farmer had already succumbed to his injuries.FOUR FARMERS KILLED IN THREE YEARS, VILLAGERS DEMAND ACTIONThe latest attack has intensified concerns over the movement of tigers and leopards in Deolali, Bavi and Dhamangaon areas. According to local accounts, four farmers have lost their lives in big-cat attacks in the Ashti region over the past three years. Residents have accused the Forest Department of failing to take adequate preventive measures despite repeated warnings about the presence of wild animals in the area.Local resident Mohan Amte demanded that the tiger be captured immediately and that financial assistance be provided to the deceased farmer's family. He warned that villagers would launch a protest outside the Forest Department office if authorities failed to act.Takle's brother, Dada Takle, said the farmer was attacked while cutting grass. He added that his son found his father's clothes and footwear before following the blood trail to locate his body."We demand that the tiger be brought under control," he said.FOREST DEPARTMENT INCREASES PATROLLINGAshti Forest Range Officer (RFO) Amol Munde said a tiger had been roaming in the forest areas of Ashti and Patoda since October 17. The department had repeatedly warned farmers against venturing into remote valleys and forest stretches to protect themselves from wildlife attacks, he said.Munde confirmed that a tiger was responsible for Saturday's attack and said the department had installed camera traps in the area and increased patrolling. He also appealed to residents to stay away from the affected forest stretches.Ashti MLA Suresh Dhas said the region had a large cattle population, forcing some farmers to venture into forest areas to arrange fodder for their livestock.He claimed that the same tiger, identified as Ramlinga, had earlier attacked and killed an animal in the area and was also responsible for Saturday's fatal attack. Dhas said the tiger needed to be captured and urged residents to avoid moving around in the affected areas until the animal was brought under control.- EndsWith inputs from Rohidas Lahudas Hatagale