Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS): A 26-year-old farmer in West Bengal was killed by a herd of elephants while he was trying to save his crops, an official said Sunday.
The incident happened Saturday night near the Sonamukhi forest in Bankura district, nearly 150 km from here.
"A herd of 12 elephants had come out of the forest for drinking water from a canal which is close to a village," Divisional Forest Officer, Bankura (North) Division, Sudhir Chandra Das said.
"Fearing that the elephants may damage their crops, farmers tried to shoo them away. One of the farmers Sukanta Adhikari was attacked and killed by the herd."
A grievously injured Adhikari was shifted to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Following the incident, locals blocked the Bankura-Burdwan highway Sunday, demanding compensation for the family of the deceased. The blockade was lifted following police intervention.