Post News Network
Sonepur/Tarabha, Nov 23: In the wake of the death of two female elephants due to electrocution in Chithipali reserve forest under Kumbharmunda range in Subarnapur division Sunday two forest department officials were placed under suspension Monday.
Divisional forest officer Debarchan Behera suspended Kumbharmunda forester Debaraj Chhatria and forest guard Niranjan Pradhan of Chithipali forest beat. The officials were asked to report at Sonepur forest ranger’s office during their suspension period.
Besides, informer Swadhin Dalabehera, elephant protection squad members Lakshmi Narayan Rana, Babulal Selma, Santosh Dalapati and Munindra Kalse have been relieved from their duties. All five are daily wagers. However, no one has been arrested in this connection.
According to reports, the incident had occurred near Bahiramuhan Colony under Brahmani panchayat in Tarabha block where miscreants apparently connected low-transmission electric wires with the solar fence. The pachyderms came in contact with the wires and were electrocuted.
The matter came to the fore when forest officials heard the deafening sound of trumpeting at 3 pm Saturday. They arrived at the spot and found two female adult elephants lying dead.
Earlier, forest officials had detained two villagers and interrogated them in this connection. The carcasses of the elephants were buried at the spot after veterinarians conducted post-mortem.
Reports said forest officials has drawn solar fences over 20 km in Pithipali, Chirabahal, Adra and Kumbharmunda reserve forests on the banks of river Tel to check wild animals from straying into human habitations and destroying farmlands adjoining the forests. The fences are charged with five volt of solar power which gives a mild shock and deters the wild animals from straying.
The two elephants were killed after miscreants connected electric wires with the solar fences, DFO Behera said.
He said a herd of 16 elephants roaming in the area has become a major irritant during the time of harvesting. Forest officials have intensified patrolling as the jumbos have become a menace for the farmers.
Sonepur ranger Ranjan Kumar Mohanty said the herd from Boudh had crossed river Tel to reach the district.
Villagers claimed the destruction caused by pachyderms has increased menacingly from 1992 as the solar fence drawn is of poor quality and has failed to deter the elephants from straying into paddy fields.
They alleged some miscreants might have connected the fence with electric wires to save their ripen paddy crops as the herd Saturday flattened crops of six farmers in Brahamuni and Bahiramuhana. PNN
