Ranchi: A wild bear’s arrival in Padkitoli village, located in the southern Bharnot Panchayat of Gumla district, caused widespread panic among locals on Saturday. The bear entered a garden in the farm of farmer Ducha, and soon, hundreds of villagers gathered to witness the animal. In an attempt to capture it, the crowd surrounded the garden, trapping the bear inside, and started throwing stones at it.
Upon receiving the news, a team from the Basia Forest Department, led by Forest Guard Libnus Kullu, reached the scene with a six-member Quick Response Team (QRT). The team appealed to the locals to stay away from the bear and avoid disturbing it. Sukesh Oraon, the Mukhiya of Marasili Panchayat, also urged the villagers to remain calm and ensure the safety of the bear, warning that if the bear turned aggressive, it could cause significant damage to life and property.
It is worth noting that incidents of wild animals, including bears and elephants, straying from the forest into villages are not uncommon in the Bharnot area. According to local reports, such incidents occur three to four times a year. Three years ago, in the Ambhera Nagesia Toli village of the Karanj police station area, a bear killed three people in a single day and injured three others.