Third tiger attack in Ranthambore in 2 months: Temple caretaker mauled to death

According to police reports, Radheyshyam had gone out at around 4.30 am when he was attacked by the tiger. Bite marks were found on his neck, confirming the fatal encounter.

Rajasthan Chief Wildlife Warden, Shikha Mehra, told The Indian Express, “I have not yet received the final report on the extent of the attack. Preliminary information suggests the body was partially mauled by the tiger, but the full details will be confirmed after post-mortem.”

Regarding the identity of the tiger, Mehra said it has not been confirmed. However, hair samples found on the body have been sent to a laboratory for DNA analysis to help identify the tiger.

Following the incident, irate villagers blocked the Sawai Madhopur–Kundera road. Locals accused the forest department of negligence, blaming it for the third tiger attack in just two months. A protest tent was erected at the Ganesh Dham intersection, and villagers staged a sit-in. Tensions escalated into a confrontation between the protesters and the police.

Bharat Singh, in-charge of Kundera Police Station, said, “The crowd is still occupying the area with their demands for adequate compensation. They have refused to hand over the body to police or government officials. We are trying to persuade them to cooperate with the investigation, but they remain unmoved. The entire area has been in turmoil since morning.”

In May, forest officials tranquillized a tigress known as Kankati, suspected of killing forest ranger Devendra Chaudhary on May 11. She is also believed to have killed a 7-year-old child near the Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside the sanctuary on April 16.

With Radheyshyam’s death, the number of tiger-related fatalities in the region has now risen to three in just two months, sparking widespread fear and unrest among local residents.