Patna, July 8 (IANS) A paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) trooper has been killed by a tiger in a national park in Bihar’s West Champaran district, police said Tuesday. Pramod K. Singh, an SSB jawan of 12th battalion, was attacked and killed by a tiger near the Kismi rivulet in the Valmiki National Park, a police official said.

The national park, which is Bihar’s only tiger project, is over 250 km from here.

The incident has created panic among the SSB personnel and villagers who moved about freely in the forest despite warnings by forest officials.

Last May, a woman was killed by a tiger in the national park.

However, the tiger population in the Valmiki National Park has been decreasing at an alarming rate, according to the latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

According to the report, there were 56 tigers in the park in 2002 and the number came down to 33 by 2005.