Fear of the tiger kept people of Kundahchappai, Kappachi and Thummanhatty indoors for two weeks and schools remained shut.

The man-eater of Dodabetta was shot dead on Wednesday evening, by Special Task Force (STF) personnel, who have been assisting the Forest Department in tracking the elusive tiger.

Though reports all through had suggested that the animal was to be tranquilised, caged and relocated to a zoo, the tiger was shot dead by the STF personnel.

When asked who ordered the shooting of the tiger, a senior Forest official said no order was issued.

“The STF personnel were also trying to trap the animal. But, they claimed that they shot the tiger when it attempted to attack them,” the forest officer said.

The killing of two women, a man and two cows in a couple of villages have been attributed to the animal.

Fear of the tiger kept people of Kundahchappai, Kappachi and Thummanhatty indoors for two weeks and schools remained shut.

Several cameras were also used to identify the location of the tiger which remained elusive for over a fortnight.

On Wednesday, the villagers joined the STF and Forest Department personnel in the search for the tiger. It got the better of the search teams.

After the STF shot the tiger around 7.30 pm, forest and police personnel and veterinarians joined the STF personnel with lights to locate the carcass.

It was then brought to the village. Soon after it killed two persons between January 5 and 8, the district administration had shut down tourism at Dodabetta Peak, a major tourist destination, as the animal was prowling close to the area and was targeting humans.

The district administration is expected to lift the ban on tourism at Dodabetta and also announce the reopening of all schools.