CALCUTTA, AP-A TIGER killed a drunk young man and injured his friend after they tried to put a marigold garland around its neck for New Year, witnesses and Calcutta zoo officials said.
The victims Suresh Rai and Prakesh Tiwwari, both in their 20s, had gone to the Calcutta zoo to celebrate the New Year.
They bought the garlands from vendors and got into the tigers ‘enclosure.
The two men were trying to put a garland on a 13-year-old male tiger named “Shiva”.
When Rai threw the garland around Shiva ‘ s neck, the tiger jumped and attacked him. Rai’s friend Tiwari tried to help him. He kicked the tiger’s face,hoping that it would make the tiger release his friend.
The tiger did release Rai, but attacked Tiwari instead.
“I saw it all , the tiger turned and jumped on the other young man and put its head on the man ‘s neck and within moments the man was dead, his head dangling.”
Banerjee said.
1,000 people who were near the enclosure saw the tiger attack the men.
They threw stones at the tiger which went inside its iron cage. A zoo keeper; closed the gate.
Rai was taken to a city hospital.