Old man trampled to death by stray elephant

Baripada,Jun 1(UNI) A bull elephant that strayed from neighbouring Jharkhand has trampled to death a 55-year old man in a village yesterday.

Police said Hara Nayak of Kajala village under Jashipur police station limits, about 70 km from here, was killed on Wednesday night when the bull elephant attacked him in the village.

The incident triggered protests from villagers who staged a 'Rasta Roko' stir at Raruan Chhak on Jashipur-Raruan MDR(Major District Road) demanding protection from depredations by the rampaging tusker.

The villagers also demanded compensation of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. The migrant bull elephant that crossed Orissa-Jharkhand border and entered Mayurbhanj about two months ago had been causing depredations in villages under Jashipur and Raruan blocks, the villagers alleged.

Jashipur MLA Sambhunath Nayak who had visited the spot and talked to the agitated villagers supported their demands.

Meanwhile, Karanjia Assistant Conservation of Forest L K Jena, had to rushed to the spot to request the villagers to lift the road blockade. He also assured that steps were being taken to drive away the rampaging pachyderm.

The local police sent the body to Karanjia Sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem examination.

UNI XC-DP-PL-AKP1438