One person was killed and the other sustained serious injuries in a bear attack at Chilanahalli in Madhugiri taluk in the district on Monday afternoon.

The bear was killed by the police as it tried to attack the villagers and the police, who tried to drive away the bear.

The deceased is identified as Somanna (40) and the injured is Sanna Thimmanna (55) of Chilanahalli.

Somanna was going to his field, when the bear attacked him around 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The bear was hiding behind a bush. He shouted for help and the villager, Sanna Thimmanna, tried to rescue him from the bear but the bear attacked him. Sanna Thimmanna sustained serious injuries.

Hundreds of people gathered around the bear and hurled stones at it. The frightened bear tried to attack them as well.

Deputy Conservator of Forests, N.V. Amaranath told The Hindu, "the police, in order to save themselves and people from being attacked by the bear, fired at it and killed it".

Mr. Amaranath gave a cheque of Rs. two lakh to the family of the deceased. The injured is being treated at the Tumakuru district government hospital.