Tiger Kills 21-Year-Old Farmer in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary

On October 24, 2025, a 21-year-old farmer named Sanjeet Kumar was mauled to death by a tiger in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) along the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich district. The incident took place near the Saryu Canal Bridge at Mukhiya Farm, spreading fear among the nearby villagers.

Sanjeet, a resident of Rampurwa Mukhiya Farm under the Sujauli Range, was weeding a turmeric field when the tiger suddenly emerged from the forest and attacked him. Locals rushed to help, but Sanjeet had already suffered fatal injuries. Authorities, including the SHO Sujauli Prakash Chandra Sharma and Ranger Rohit Kumar, recovered the body and began an investigation.

According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Suraj, Sanjeet had likely gone near the siphon area number 13 to collect grass, which is a known habitat for tigers, elephants, and rhinos. The DFO warned villagers not to enter the protected forest zone, where grass cutting and wood collection are strictly prohibited. Forest officials have started awareness drives in nearby villages, urging residents to stay away from the forested areas to avoid further human-wildlife conflicts.

This tragic incident comes just a month after a 40-year-old woman, Quraisha Bano, was seriously injured in a tiger attack in Harkhapur village under the Dharmapur Range. The recent attacks have created a sense of fear in the Sujauli and Dharmapur areas, with villagers claiming that two to three tigers have been spotted near their fields and homes. However, they allege that the forest department has not taken effective measures to address the situation.