A tiger killed a grandson and his grandfather 12 hours apart: they spared his life

A grandfather has died in India from an attack by the same tiger that killed his teenage grandson 12 hours earlier, news that has rocked that Asian country.

Raju70 years old, member of the Jenu Kuruba tribe in Karnataka was mutilated to death by a bengal tiger when he left his home near Nagarahole Tiger Reserve at around 6:30 am on Feb. 13, The Hindu reported.

The old man’s grisly death came just 12 hours after his 18-year-old nephew, Chethan, was also savagely attacked by a large cat while harvesting coffee at a nearby plantation.

But the case took an even crueler turn, as Raju had attended Chethan’s funeral shortly before his death, and a third family member, Jayamma, 56, died of a heart attack upon learning of the double tragedy, the Jam Press reported.

As Raju and Chethan were attacked very close together, the officials assumed so they were killed by the same tiger and immediately began to look for the animal.

In a viral video on social media citizens can be seen screaming in the crowd as terror grew over the animal’s capture.

BN Murthythe forest conservationist of Karnataka’s Kodagu Circle, told The Hindu that the mopping up operations to find the tiger involved five elephants and nearly 150 field personnel, as well as 25 camera traps.

Finally, after several hours of searching, the 9 year old tiger who they believe killed both people was found near the Nanachi Gate of the Nagarahole reservation, the Jam Press said.

Images they show the animal lying down down what looks like a long drain pipe before he was sedated and taken into captivity, where they decided to spare his life and not to sacrifice him.

The Indian Minister for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, JC Madhuswamy, he told the lawmaker that Forest Department officials would be punished if they were found his carelessness led to the deaths of Chethan and Raju.