Redhakhol: A middle-aged farmer was battered to death by a tusker at Tutamunda village under Redhakhol division’s Badmal forest range in Sambalpur district late Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Sripati Munda (45).
According to sources, as usual Munda with his wife Ukia Munda and four minor children — three daughters and a son went to bed after dinner Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the tusker, believed to be separated from its herd, strayed into the village and created havoc. Munda woke up by the trumpet of the tusker and was stunned to find the pachyderm inside his house, standing right in front of his eyes.
In a bid to save his minor children and wife, Munda tried to divert the attention of the pachyderm. He then slowly sent his wife and the minor children out of the house. However, before he could escape, the animal lifted him in its trunk and battered him to the ground.
Later, it tramped him under its feet, leading to his death on the spot.
Luckily, other family members escaped and alarmed neighbours who woke up and chased away the pachyderm. The incident spread a pall of gloom in the village as angry villagers held the forest officials responsible for failing to keep a track of movements of the pachyderm.
Due to lack of mobile network, the villagers could not inform forest officials. Later, the officials reached the village Monday morning and sent the body for autopsy. Badamal range officer Ramesh Karna, forester Trinath Bhabasagar, forest guard Prasant Sahu and others tried to drive away the tusker, but in vain.
The animal strayed into a forest near the village and trumpeted through the day, spreading panic among villagers. Angry villagers demanded necessary compensation for the family as Munda was the sole breadwinner for the family.
Locals here alleged that the tusker was on a killing spree as it had killed more people earlier. They accused the forest officials of not taking steps to relocate the animal while it was roaming from villages to villages, giving sleepless night to locals.
More people will die under its feet, if the forest department continues ignoring the pleas, a local complained.
PNN
