Panic and anxiety have gripped residents of Medly tea garden and its neighbouring areas in Barak Valley’s Karimganj district after a herd of wild elephants trampled a local to death.
Jagannath Balmikdas, 60, a resident of Medly tea garden and a woodcutter by profession, had gone to a reserve forest at Indurail, around 108km from here, under Patharia forest range, to collect timber and went missing. On Sunday morning, another woodcutter found parts of a body scattered. He then informed residents of the tea garden following which villagers, including Balmikdas’s members went to the forest, along with police and forest officials. The villagers and family members identified the victim from his clothes. His body parts were sent to Karimganj civil hospital for autopsy. The incident created fear among locals that jumbos might barge into the village and wreak havoc.
Medly gaon panchayat president Antu Balmikdas said the forest department must take measures to ensure safety of the people.
Residents Anil Tewari and Sachin Sahu said the herd of elephants had been wreaking havoc in different parts of Patharkandi constituency for years, but the authorities have not taken any initiative. “People are spending sleepless nights. The forest department should initiate prompt steps in this regard,” Tewari said.
Patharkandi forest ranger Dibyojyoti Nath said five elephants had been roaming in the area where the body parts were recovered. Over 20 people have been killed by the jumbos in the past few years, he said. On Monday, Nath provided Rs 10,000 to the victim’s family.
When contacted, Patharkandi legislator Krishnendu Paul said on Wednesday that he had raised the matter many times with the minister concerned, but he never paid heed. “The jumbos have been damaging paddy fields, razing houses and killing people in different areas for the past many years,” he said. He added that he would raise the matter in the Assembly and make efforts so that the problem is solved.
He assured financial assistance from his MLA fund to the victim’s family.