Dhenkanal: Tension ran high at Kaunriapal village under Sadar police limits in this district following the death of a labourer in a tusker attack Friday while another sustained serious injuries.
The deceased was identified as Akshay Mohanty (48) while the injured was his relative Krutibash Majhi (45).
According to sources, a herd comprising 40 pachyderms had strayed into the village Thursday night. They fed on the crops at neighbouring Sanbaulapur village throughout the night and later strayed into Kaunriapal village.
Unaware of the movements of the tuskers, Akshay, along with his two friends, had gone to relieve themselves near the village. Meanwhile, they came face-to-face with a tusker that attacked them.
The tusker lifted Akshay and battered him to death while Krutibash managed to escape with injuries. The other relative ran to the village and alerted locals who reached the spot, armed with lathis and drove away the pachyderm.
Hundreds of locals staged an agitation demanding compensation of Rs 10 lakhs for the bereaved family. They also called for providing a job to one of the family members.
Sadar ranger Ashok Kumar Bhanja, Sadar IIC Hadibandhu Swain, Jhargadia outpost officer Gopinath Baliarsingh reached the village and brought the situation under control.
The agitation was called off after compensation of Rs 30,000 was provided and the officials assured to provide a job to a family member in the elephant driving squad. The remaining compensation would be provided soon, forest officials said.
A case of unnatural death has been registered and the body sent for post-mortem to the district headquarters hospital. PNN