Angul: People living in the six Satkosia viilages near Raigoda are spending sleepless nights ever since the tiger that was brought from Kanha was released into the forest on July 6. There are six villages situated near Raigoda where the tiger enclosure is located.

Of the six villages, Nuakheta is situated just six kilometres from the enclosure having forest continuity up to their village.

There are about 300 families and they are in a state of panic.

They have demanded that the forest department should inform the movements of the tiger regularly or install wire fence on the borders of their village. They have also threatened to launch a protest.

The villagers said that they were in a state of constant fear for the tiger as they could hear its roar often. They are not even daring to go out to earn their livelihood.

A villager said that the forest depertment has warned them not to venture into the forest. Now, people are moving in groups during day time and are remaining extra cautious at nights.

Opposing the release of the animal into the forest, president of Van Suraksha Samiti Amarendra Nayak said that the government should have thought of protecting the villagers when it released the tiger. He demanded relocation of the villagers.

However, animal expert Prasanna Behera tried to dispel the fear among the people by saying that normally tigers do not attack human beings and they hardly venture into the village. He also said that when Satkosia had many tigers in the past, people had led normal lives.

Additional chief conservator of forests, Angul circle, Sudarshan Panda said: "We are watching the tiger's movements. The fears expressed by people are unfounded as there is a 24-hour monitoring of the tiger's movement. The squad will caution the villagers about its movement if it tries to enter any village. There is no reason to panic."