Bhubaneswar, May 5: A wild bear killed eight persons in Kotpad block of Koraput district in the last two days before succumbing to the attack of irate villagers today.

Five others injured by the bear are being treated at hospitals in Jeypore and Koraput. This is the first instance of a bear attack killing so many people in the area.

The victims, who included two women, were identified as Miniz Soura, Sukumar Jani, Gurubandhu Keuta, Laxanu Mali, Debaki Mali, Dhabaleswar Bindhani, Manadhar Majhi and Jagdish Pujari. Kotpad forest ranger Jagdish Prasad Patnaik said while Miniz, Sukumar and Gurubandhu were attacked and killed by the bear yesterday, the other deaths occurred today.

“Laxanu and Debaki, who happen to be husband and wife, were attacked in Girila village early in the morning while they were asleep. The husband died on the spot,” said Patnaik.

Irate villagers blocked National Highway No. 63 and gheraoed the office of the ranger in Kotpad demanding proper security and compensation for the deaths. They cornered the bear near Girila forests in the afternoon and beat it to death.

“We will wait for the postmortem report before initiating any action,” said Patnaik.

Last year a bear had killed a person at Hardoli village near Kenduguda in Kotpad block. The authorities had paid the victim’s family compensation of Rs 2 lakh.

“This time the family is demanding Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia payment,” said Patnaik.

Divisional forest officer, Jeypore, L.K. Mishra was gheraoed by angry villagers who sought enhanced compensation when he visited Kotpad.