Elephant tramples youth to death

Kolhapur, Dec 22 (UNI) A 22-year-old youth was trampled to death by an elephant at Chinchewadi village near Samangad in Gadinglaj tehsil here yesterday.

Mr Rama Ashok Naik was crushed by an elephant, when villagers, who had gathered near Chinchewadi on learning about a herd of elephants passing nearby, tried to drive away the animals, forest and police sources said.

State Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar, top forest and police officers visited the spot and consoled family members of the deceased, sources added.

Meanwhile, the villagers ''gheraoed'' Mr Kupekar's car and demanded proper safeguards against elephants.

During the last few months, elephants have destroyed crops in the region and few persons had also lost their lives after being attacked by the pachyderms in Gadinglaj, Chandgad and Ajra talukas in the district. Mr Kupekar, incidentally, is an MLA from the Gadinglaj Assembly Constituency.

Earlier, the villagers also ''gheraoed'' forest officers to protest against their failure to tackle the elephants menace.

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