Wild jumbo tramples one in Udalguri along the Indo-Bhutan border

A Correspondent

TANGLA: The menace of wild jumbos continues unabated along the Indo-Bhutan border villages in Udalguri district. Villagers continue to spend sleepless nights fearing sudden attack by wild jumbos.

A loner jumbo, part of a herd which has descended from the Bhutan hills in search of food, trampled to death Galor Wari (32) at Chaglijhar village under Paneri Police Station in Udalguri district on Wednesday. According to reports, the victim was a resident of Ukomati Brahma village under Gogamukh Police Station in Dhemaji district who had come to visit his relatives.

Earlier, herds of wild elephants damaged the Hari Mandir in the 2 no. Dimakuchi area and the Krishna Mandir in the area in Udalguri district on Tuesday night. Apart from damaging the temples, the herd of more than 12 elephants also damaged houses of Ashita Deka, Purna Kalita and Tilak Nepali. No one was injured in the incident.

Days back, houses of Belarani Das, Abhiram Ratia, Bhola Chauhan, Lakhi Behra and Deva Oriya were damaged along with bighas of croplands. Locals have alleged that forest officials have not turned up for patrolling despite repeated pleas. “We are keeping an eye on the movement of the herd which has come down from the hills in search of food,” said a forest officer of the local beat office.

“The forest department must rope in young men as volunteers with basic honorarium who can be trained and can help mitigate the man-elephant conflict,” said Nabajyoti Baruah, a wildlife activist of Udalguri district.

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