In the tranquil town of Sundargarh, nestled in the Indian state of Odisha, the year was 2008, and an air of mystery began to envelop the community. Whispers spread like wildfire, tales of a half-man, half-tiger creature prowling the shadows. At first, locals dismissed it as a mere jest, a product of overactive imaginations. However, the narrative took a grim turn in the chilling month of March.

The River Ib, a usually serene waterway, bore witness to an unsettling discovery – a lifeless body with ominous bruising on its neck and chest. Fearful...