Wild bear kills eight, beaten to death

The wild animal had fatally attacked three persons, including a woman and injured two others in the forests near Andramunda in Kotpad yesterday when the victims were passing through the area to collect fire-wood.

After killing the trio, the rogue bear went berserk in the jungle and mauled to death five persons, including a couple today and injured three while they were passing that way, divisional forest officer (DFO), Jeypore, Laxmikanta Mishra said.

Angry over the incident, the villagers chased the bear with sticks and other arms and allegedly beat the animal to death in the forest, Mishra said.

After being informed of the incident, the forest and police officials had rushed to the spot.

All the injured were being treated at the district headquarters hospital here and their condition was stated be critical, the DFO added.