Nuagaon: In yet another incident of elephant attack in Nuagaon block of Sundargarh district, a tusker battered a 50-year-old man to death Friday morning.
He was identified as Isak Minja of Kadapani village under Lukumbeda panchayat of Biramitrapur forest range. His death follows the killing of five more persons, including a woman and a minor boy, by elephants in Nuagaon block a few days back.
In the latest incident, the man was standing in the courtyard of his house when the tusker charged at him. His death has enraged residents who blamed the forest department officials for the death of innocent people.
“In the last two months, five persons have died. Acres of farmlands, vegetable and paddy crops have been devastated. Many people have become homeless after their houses were damaged by elephants. But, the forest officials have done little to drive away the animals,” a local complained.
According to locals, a herd comprising 15 to 16 tuskers has been wandering around in forests of Nuagaon block. The animals stray into villages and wreak havoc at nights. As usual, the herd had strayed into Kadapani village late Thursday night.
Unaware, Minja came out of his house early in the morning. Unexpectedly, a tusker appeared from nowhere and attacked him. The animal lifted him with its trunk and battered him to death before the herd strayed back into the forest after sunrise.
Locals woke up to find a dead Minja in front of his house and alerted the forest officials. Then, the officials along with a police team reached the village and sent the body for post-mortem. A case of unnatural death has been registered. The man’s family has been given a compensation of Rs 20,000 with an assurance further relief would be provided as per government rules. PNN