KHERONI: Human-animal conflict continues to take place in different parts of the state. A similar incident took place in the Kheroni region of the state.
Elephants coming out of the Kheroni Reserve Forest in the West Karbi Anglong district of the state wreaked havoc in the inhabited localities of the region. The villagers of the Phelangpi Lalung village were the worst affected because of this incident.
As the wild elephants entered the locality in search of food, they completely destroyed the homes of four families. They also partially damaged several other houses. The inhabitants of the damaged houses managed to escape safely before the elephants wreaked havoc in the village, thus saving their lives.
The local people mentioned that they have informed the forest department several times regarding the problems created by the elephants, but no visible action has been taken by the authorities.
Previously, a forest department employee was killed and three others injured in a confrontation with wild elephants in Jorhat district. The deceased officer Atul Kalita worked for the Mariani Forest Range. Divisional Forest Officer of Jorhat, Nandha Kumar said that the incident occurred when a group of forest workers arrived in Bijoy Nagar, a neighbourhood in Jorhat’s Titabor, with the goal of chasing away a herd of elephants that had wreaked havoc.
When the forest team tried to push back the herd of elephants into the forest, one jumbo came back and launched an attack on the forest personnel, he said. “Unfortunately, Atul Kalita got stuck and could not escape. He was killed by the wild elephant,” the official said. He said three forest staffers also suffered minor injuries and were sent to the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH). “Our forest staff generally engage with the people to push back the wild elephants when they come out of the forest in search of food. The deceased Atul Kalita was an experienced staffer but unfortunately, he got killed,” the DFO added.
Also Watch: