A team of Wildlife Department engaged in a monitoring movement of a large number of migrant elephants faced public ire in Nilgiri area here. Spilling their anger, the irate villagers thrashed them and vandalised their official vehicles alleging their inaction in protecting their lands and properties.
They alleged that the marauding jumbos have devoured ready-to-harvest paddy crops as well as inflicted damages to their farmlands and dwelling houses.
The incident took place in Hatimunda village under Nilgiri Forest Range late in the night while the forest team was on its duty in the village. At least, seven personnel sustained injuries while two Bolero vehicles used by the forest officials got damaged in the attack, Range Officer Nilgiri Sukumar Das said.
“There were more than 50 villagers who heckled and thrashed our men. Seven of them sustained injuries, two vehicles damaged. We are doing our best but they alleged we failed to contain the jumbo menace. An FIR is lodged over the incident,” he said, adding there are about 58 elephants who have sneaked into Nilgiri migrating from Jharkhand via Bengal and Mayurbhanj.