A Royal Bengal Tiger died on Friday from an "accidental firing" by forest guards in the  Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP & TR) in Assam, officials said.
KNP & TR director Karmashree P. Sivakumar said the incident occurred near Japoripothar in Karuabari, which is on the fringes of the KNP & TR.

The dead tiger is male and about  10 years old, officials said, adding that the animal had earlier killed a buffalo straying into the village and was seen again on Thursday evening triggering panic among villagers who called the forest guards.

"The tiger died from bullet injuries which were accidental as the firing was to scare away the big cat from human habitation area," Sivakumar said.

Forest guards acted on the information of the local people who sighted the tiger.

Officials said the firing was resorted to when the tiger tried to attack the forest guards, IBNS said. 

"The forest guards fired in self-defence," the officer maintained. Earlier this month, a four-year-old male tiger's carcass was found at Sidha Kathoni area of the park. (SAM)