A 54-year-old farmer was killed in a suspected tiger attack near his home at O'Valley in the Nilgiris district on Friday. His partially eaten remains were recovered later in the day. This is the second such fatal incident reported in the area within two weeks.

The victim, identified as Ravichandran, a resident of Lawrence in O'Valley panchayat, had been working on his farm near his house since morning. The attack is suspected to have occurred around noon.

Ravichandran went missing around midday, prompting local residents to launch a search after bloodstains were found near his house. His remains were later recovered from a nearby hillside.

The incident has triggered fresh panic among residents, who fear that the animal could be the same tiger suspected of killing another farmer in O'Valley earlier this month.

On August 8, 58-year-old Balakrishnan was killed in a suspected tiger attack in the same area. His partially eaten body was found the following morning in an abandoned coffee plantation. Forest officials who examined the injuries had concluded that they were consistent with a tiger attack.

Following the earlier death, residents had demanded an urgent operation by the Forest Department to capture the animal, fearing that it could pose a threat to human life. However, locals alleged that no effective action had been taken to capture the animal.

The latest incident has triggered protests by farmers and residents, who are preventing Forest Department officials from shifting Ravichandran's remains to Gudalur Taluk Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A large police and Forest Department contingent has been deployed at the site to maintain law and order. Officials are holding discussions with the protesters on measures to trace and capture the animal.

The latest suspected attack has heightened fears among residents, particularly farmers working in plantations and agricultural fields close to forested areas. Locals are demanding immediate intervention from the Forest Department to prevent further loss of life.

Ravichandran is survived by his wife, Maheswari, and children Ajithkumar, Sangeetha and Mahalakshmi.