Parajang: An elderly farmer was battered to death by a tusker while he had gone to work at his farm early Friday morning at Palasahi village under Parajang block in Dhenkanal district. The deceased has been identified as Bauribandhu Sahu alias Bauri.
According to reports, the pachyderm had strayed into Sahu’s brinjal farm late Thursday night in search of food. Unaware of its movement, Sahu had done to pluck some brinjals to prepare an early morning curry for the family.
Meanwhile, he came face to face with the animal that lifted him using its trunks and battered him to the ground while he was trying to flee. Hearing his screams, two other farmers—Bhajana Sahu and Hari Biswal, rushed to the spot from a nearby paddy field shouting for help. Hearing their screams, the tusker strayed back into a forest, leaving Sahu in a critical condition.
Villagers gathered and alerted an 108 ambulance after which he was admitted to Parajang community health centre (CHC). However, doctors in the CHC declared him brought dead.
On being informed, police reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. Meanwhile, forest officials reached the village and started an investigation into the matter.
The incident spread outrage among the villagers who alleged negligence on part of the forest officials and accused them of failing to keep track on the movement of the elephants.
The agitators relented after senior forest officials including Mahabirod ranger Suresh Chandra Behera, Dihadol forester Biswanath Soren, forest guard Manash Pradhan and other pacified the mob and provided Rs 40,000 as initial compensation.
The officials assured further compensation as per government law after the autopsy. Meanwhile, Sahu’s family has been left in a lurch as he was the sole bread earner for the family.
Villagers sympathised with the bereaved family and demanded a job for his kin.
PNN
