The Royal Bengal Tiger, which was first sighted in Lalgarh forest over two months ago, seems to be playing the hide-and-seek game with forest officials and forest dwellers.

After evading capture at Boxir Bandh forest under Gurguripal forest range and injuring three villagers on Friday, the big cat was once again sighted at Rangamati area this morning. Two villagers while walking past the forest saw the beast, but the tiger entered into the deep forest towards Lalgarh without attacking them.

Villagers, who have spotted the fresh pugmarks in their locality, have lodged complaints with the forest officials to take “professional steps” to catch the tiger.

The forest department authorities also left no stone unturned to catch the tiger. Trained workers conducted combing operation in the forest area where the pug marks were more concentrated. The worried villagers are now walking with their eyes scanning the ground. Shouts greet every fresh sighting of pug marks.

“Our lives depend on the forest. We get food and fuel from there. Our cattle graze there. How long can we keep them tied up at home?” says Nimai Hembram (65). Hembram claims to have seen the tiger even before the traps were laid.

“It was the size of a big calf but smaller than a cow,” he said. “I just saw it for a few seconds in the forest. Since then I have not ventured in or taken my cattle there.”

The three policemen from Kolkata are still in Binpur 1 block. They have to stay put as long as the drones remain in the region. “We were well-received by the people when we first arrived,” said one. “But since then, we have had little to do.”

The villagers say they are losing patience with all the official effort and want to see some action. “We are traditionally a community of hunters. If the department has failed let us do the job,” said one villager who has been volunteering with the forest department to help keep villagers out of the forest. “Why put our lives and livelihoods in danger?”

The forest department reiterates that they are doing all they can. “The tiger though has not moved out of the area,” said chief conservator Ravi Kant Sinha. “We can only ask that people in the area to cooperate for their safety.”