Elephant tramples a farmer to death in Hazaribagh

Hazaribagh:  A herd of elephants killed a farmer in the Sadar block of Hazaribagh district. The incident occurred about 1 a.m. in Chano village, Baheri Panchayat. The deceased, Chhotu Mahato, is 57 years old. The body was taken into custody by police and transported to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. After receiving the information, the forest department crew went to the village.

The farmer was staying in the field, and elephants attacked him.

Baheri Panchayat head Pawan Kumar Yadav said that Chhotu Mahato used to stay in the field because he used to do seasonal farming. On Thursday night also, he was staying with his wife in the house built in the field. At around 12 o’clock in the night, a herd of elephants entered Chhotu Mahato’s field and broke the house. Out of fear, Chhotu Mahato started running, but an elephant caught him with its trunk and trampled him on the ground, due to which he died on the spot. Whereas, his wife saved her life by hiding behind the wall.

Panic in the village, Forest Department accused of negligence

The head said that the herd of elephants has been creating terror in the village for the last one week. The Forest Department was informed several times, but no concrete action was taken. The farmers’ crops have also suffered heavy losses. The villagers have demanded the Forest Department to drive away the elephants and give compensation to the farmers.