Krishnagiri: Protests erupt as another ryot dies in jumbo attack

Krishnagiri: Angry over the death of two farmers in a wild elephant attack, including a fresh attack recorded on Wednesday, villagers of the forest fringe here resorted to a protest against the forest department, by preventing the police from moving the body from the spot. In the early hours of Wednesday, 55-year-old Chenna Basappa, a farmer of Thiyanadhurgham village in Uthanapalli police limits here, was trampled to dead by the wild elephant.

The farmer went to stay at his farm land in the night to keep a watch and save his crop from the raiding elephants and was killed as he was returning home the next day. Angry villagers prevented police from shifting the body from the spot. They also demanded action against forest staffs for their failure to protect them and their properties.

Chenna Basappa is the second victim to die in a man-animal conflict recorded in December in this region. In an earlier incident, Selvappa (65) of Poddur village in Denkannikottai taluk, Krishnagiri, died at the Salem government hospital after being admitted for injuries sustained in an elephant attack.

Selvappa was attacked by the jumbo when he was sitting at his house entrance, a few days ago. The man had gotten up close to the dawn to reliece himself and was sitting outside hi shouse when he was attacked. Reportedly, he was unable to see the tusker through the thick mist. A single tusker that entered the forest fringes in Poddur village, caught the old man by its trunk and fractured his leg. He was rushed to the government hospital in Krishangiri from where he was referred to the Salem government hospital, where he died later.

Around 100 elephants moved out of the Bannarghatta wild life sanctuary around three months ago and entered the Krishnagiri district’s forest region via Jawalagiri here.

This herd spilt into small groups and in its migration to the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh has moved towards Denkannikottai, Hosur and Shoolagiri.

According to the local villagers, a herd of seven elephants stayed back near Poddurpallam village, where a farmer was attacked by a tusker a few days ago.