Rogue tramples 8-year-old to death, govt pays Rs one lakh

Baripada, Jul 22 (UNI) The forest department has paid a compassionate amount of rupees one lakh to the father of an eight-year-old tribal boy, who fell prey to a rogue, at Kasipal village in Mayurbhanj district.

Chandramohan, the boy, was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the village.

His father Ananta Hansda received the cheque from Jashipur Panchayat Samiti on Friday last, Gudgudia Range Officer of Karnjia Forest Divison Kalakar Mohanty said here today Like Chandramohan at least 18 people were killed and 46 injured in past five years at five territorial forest divisions under Baripada Conservator Circle, forest officials.

The affected persons, were either mauled to death by Sloth Bear or trampled by wild elephants from Baripada, Karanjia, Rairangpur, Balasore and Bhadrak, sources said.

About 13 death cases were reported from Karanjia alone, while 32 people were injured from Balasore forest division, sources added.

A killer sloth bear was on the run in the fringe areas of forests under Karanjia division near Nuhabalia and Badapandugadi villages on February 24, 2006, killing at least five people on the same day.

All the five villagers were mauled to death while they were passing through a forest path.

A total amount of Rs 22,89,000 had been paid to the kins of the victims as ''compassionate'' relief, Simlipal Tiger Reserve Field Director-cum-Conservator of the Baripada Circle Debabrata Swain said.

Mr Swain said the under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection rules published in Orissa Gazette, that came into force from 26 December, 2002, stated that in case of death of human beings caused by attack of Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Crocodile, Sloth bear, Indian Wolf, Indian Bison and Wild dogs within a forest area or within a belt of five kilometers from limits thereof, a compassionate payment of Rs one lakh would be made,'' Mr Swain said.

Prior to December, 2002, a compassionate amount of Rs 1000 was being paid to the kins of those killed by the wild animals.

UNI