Sullia: Farmer killed in wild elephant attack at Subramanya

Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia

Sullia, Feb 22: A farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant that attacked his arecanut plantation in Hosoli of Nalkuru Devacalla village near Harihara Pallatadka here on Wednesday February 20 night.

The deceased has been identified as Ram Bhat (49). He is survived by his mother, wife, son and daughter.

It is said that from past 12 years wild elephants have been regularly attacking this region.

Sources said that Bhat visited Subramanya Temple and offered prayers in the noon. At around 7.15 pm he went to the plantation to turn on the sprinkler when the elephant killed him before dragging him for a few meters.

At around 9 pm, when he did not return home, his wife Vanishri went to the plantation searching for him. She found his body lying 100 metres from the house. With the help of the neighbors, Vanishri shifted him to the house.

Though wild elephants have been repeatedly straying into plantations in this region, no harm was caused to life prior to this incident, say locals.

On Wednesday evening, the elephant first ventured into Bhat’s neighbour Kuntikana Janardhana Gowda's plantation, but he managed to escape from the elephant.

It is said that on hearing sounds of bursting crackers, the elephant ran into the neighboring plantation owned by Kuntikana Chandrashekhar and Janardhan. When it heard the sounds of crackers for the second time, it ran into Bhat's plantation, trampling him to death.

Family in trouble

Hard working Ram Bhat shared good rapport with all his neighbouts. He was the only bread winner of the family.

Conservator of forests, Mangalore division, Prabhara Padmanabha Gowda, Sullia assistant forest conservator Dr Dinesh, area forester Subbaya Nayak, Panja zonal forest officer Manohar B Chittavadagi, sub-sector forester Soumya and other officers inspected the spot.

The elephant damaged areca, coconut trees, banana plants and other crops. Forest department has declared a compensation of Rs 5 lac for the victim’s family.

Locals appealed to the local forest officials to solve the problems faced by the wild animals in the region.