Villagers attacked a forest department team in the Khawasa area of Seoni district in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday evening, a day after a tiger ambushed and killed an elderly man in the area.

The villagers also vandalised vehicles of the forest department, tehsildar, and Dial-100. A Forest Ranger and Deputy Ranger sustained serious injuries in the attack and are being treated at Kurai Hospital.

Kurai police station in-charge, Laxman Jharia, said that an FIR has been registered against unknown attackers for assaulting forest officials and vandalising vehicles. The administration tried to convince the villagers, but the situation remains tense.

The Balaghat-Seoni area has witnessed a steep rise in big cat attacks in recent months. On December 22, 55-year-old farmer Sukhram Uike, who was working in the field in Sillari village, was killed in a tiger attack.

Two other tiger attack deaths were also reported from the area in October-November. Those killed in the attacks were 22-year-old Aditya Chavre and 20-year-old Krishna Kumar Bhalavi.

Sources say that villagers in the area are seething over the attacks. Forest department and police teams are constantly inspecting the area and advising people to be cautious. The administration has increased security arrangements and efforts are being made to convince the villagers. Forest department sources say a heightened vigil is being maintained on big cat movement in view of the attacks. The administration says that all possible steps are being taken to protect villagers from tigers.