A 35-year old man was trampled to death by wild elephants in Pratappur range of Surajpur district. Enraged villagers held the forest employees hostage and released them only after assurance from Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra on Friday.
“The incident happened on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday in Chandrapur village of Pratappur forest range when the villagers were trying to drive away a herd of about 12 wild elephants which had entered the village,” Range Officer SN Mishra told The Pioneer. While the villagers were trying to drive away the herd, a wild pachyderm charged back and killed Mohar lal (35) son of Sukhlal Gond resident of Chandrapur, Mishra said. His body was found on Friday morning following which the villagers got angry. They did not allow the officials to take away Mohar’s body. It was only when Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra accompanied by the officers of district administration reached the spot and pacified the villagers, the last rites were performed, he said.
Immediate relief of Rs10,000 has been provided to the family members of the victim, Mishra said adding that a compensation of Rs3 lakh is given in such cases. Wild life Expert Amalendu Mishra while talking with The Pioneer said that elephant tracking system of forest department is not effective. “If the department’s early warning system had been in place then such incidents could have been averted,” he said. According to Amalendu, who has been watching elephant problem in Surguja region for past 15 years, during this season villagers locally brew liquor attracting wild elephants from the forest. “Forest department needs to maintain more vigil during this period,” he suggested.