Kendrapara: At least six maimed bodies of sheep were found in Rajnagar division's Rajgarh village on Monday.

Angry villagers staged a road blockade protesting against lack of measures by the government to trap the killer animals. The blockade was lifted after forest officials rushed to the spot and assured the victims that they would launch a drive to nab the killer animals.

Fourteen sheep died in the village in the past one week. Villagers suspect it to be an act of predation by a pack of jackals. Forest employees who have been keeping night vigil in the village since sheep death came to light also feel the same.

"The pugmarks, the nature of predation and all other spot evidence lead us to believe that jackals are behind the incide," said divisional forest officer of Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

Livestock owners have remained a panicked lot as carcasses of sheep were retrieved from strongly-fenced enclosures. The predating animals had to break through the enclosures before killing the sheep.

A team of officials from forest, veterinary and animal husbandry and tehsil departments rushed to the village to take stock of the situation and diffuse tension.

"The predating animals will be captured soon. Those who lost sheep would be compensated according to forest department rules," said Rajnagar tehsildar Khirod Chandra Behera.

"We all are in a state of panic. We want the safety of our livestock. The animals may also kill us some other day. The government should wake up to the situation immediately," said villager Dayanidhi Rout.