Tapan Mandal, who was injured in the boar attack, at his house on Sunday. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Oct. 26: Six persons were injured when hordes of wild boars attacked them at Jamboo village on the sanctuary-side in Kendrapara district today early morning.

Angry residents then gheraoed the local forest office to protest against growing cases of animal attack on local residents.

“Six persons were injured in the attack. Mallica Mirdha, 15,, Tapan Mandal, 32, Sanju Mandal, 2, Gouranga Kanda, 24, Laxman Patra, 32, and Bishnupriya Mandal, 55, were admitted to nearby government-run hospital. However, they are out of danger now,” said Mahakalpada forest range officer Bijoy Kumar Parida. The forest department is bearing the cost of their treatment.

“The injured will get Rs 5,000 financial assistance as per forest department rules,” said Parida.

Tension prevailed in the area following the attack with residents staging demonstration in front of the forest office. However, situation was brought under control, said officials.

“The forest department is aware of animal intrusion into village area and therefore has begun night watch. The department has constituted night-vigil squads who are keeping a watch in the villages lying on the forest side.” said divisional forest officer Kedar Kumar Swain.

Officials are trying to keep the wild boars at bay by bursting firecrackers and beating up drums. The villagers have also been advised not to venture out at night and early morning as animals mostly make their way to crop fields during this time. Besides steel-net-barricade has also been installed on the borders to ward off the animals, Swain said.

Villagers feel that their safety is in question in the wake of frequent acts of trespassing by wild animals into village areas.

On October 18, Sasanapeta villagers registered protest following the death of a resident after being attacked by wild boars.

The irate residents had set ablaze the nearby Gahirmatha forest range office and caused extensive damage to forest department properties, including motorised vessels earmarked for turtle protection programme.