Police killed a female buffalo on November 2 after it hit a man to death and injured two others on October 31 in Pnov II commune, in Prey Veng province’s Sithor Kandal district.

District police chief Seng Savorn identified the deceased victim as 47-year-old Roeun Ren. He was hit in the thigh and chest and was stepped on in the ribs by the buffalo.

The two who suffered injuries were 39-year-old Nen Chamroeun and his 51-year-old brother Nen Yen. Chamroeun was hit on the right leg, while Yen was hit on the elbow and sustained light injuries to his body.

Savorn said before the incident, Yen had bought about eight buffalo to raise. Then he sold a female buffalo to Chamroeun, who said it was strong to use for farming. After purchasing the buffalo, Chamroeun’s wife brought it to a field to graze.

When Chamroeun’s wife tried to fetch the buffalo to bring it home, it hit her once. Yen rushed to help but was hit by the buffalo too. Both only sustained light injuries.

Then Chamroeun wielded a stick to hit the buffalo, but he was gored in his right foot.

Savorn said five other men armed with sticks followed the buffalo, trying to beat it. One of them was Ren, who only had a bottle of water with him. Before chasing the buffalo, Ren told the others that he was a magician and that he could calm the buffalo with his magic.

Savorn said: “I was told that the one who was killed was somehow drunk. When he chased the buffalo, he chanted his magic and sprinkled water. He told others that the buffalo will not eat for a week after it was watered with his holy water.

“But then the buffalo rushed towards him and gored him in the thigh and chest and stepped on his body. Then the buffalo ran into a forest.”

He said Ren was taken to a commune health centre but then succumbed to his injuries. The two other victims are receiving treatment at the health centre.

Savorn said villagers requested that police kill the buffalo for fear that it would cause danger to them in the future.