A tiger strayed into a residential area near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district early on Sunday, mauling a woman to death and injuring four other persons, officials said.
The incident occurred around 3 am at Kherwa Tola locality in Panpatha village near the tiger reserve. The deceased has been identified as Phool Bai Pal (40).
Following the attack, angry locals allegedly assaulted a forest ranger and manhandled a woman staffer while protesting against repeated tiger attacks in the area. Villagers accused forest officials of failing to respond promptly despite repeated calls for help.
The protesters did not allow officials to take the body for post-mortem examination, delaying rescue operations for the big cat.
Forest teams have shifted the injured persons to hospital. Police security has been deployed in the village.