Hummingbird News Desk
BANKURA, 19 OCT: With the end of festivities, soon after the forest department’s flying surveillance squad is withdrawn, the migrating herd of elephants from Dalma range that strayed into the villages of Barjora in Bankura destroyed 500 acres of standing crops prompting the villagers to gherao the forest office today.
The panicked farmers, who also suffered huge crop losses, led a protest on the road for several hours at Sangrampur village crossing and demanded immediate drive operation to push back the pachyderms.
Neighbouring Gadardihi village residents Prasanta Goswami, Paresh Karmakar said: “They didn’t disturb us during the pujas but charged back desperately destroying our paddy cultivation.”
Aloke Mukherjee, MLA, Barjora also moved to the Forest Range office and after a discussion with the officials he said: “The officials have agreed to initiate drive but they have also complained about some logistic deficiency, which would be settled soon.”
Ritwik Dey, Ranger, Barjora said: “Out of 80 elephants of the migrating herd, 76 have been camping in village adjacent jungle near Sangrampur since three days, which has intensified the problem.” The jumbos which came down from Dalma range entered the district on 2 and 4 October in phases respectively.
Tags: #Elephants #DalmaRange #ForestOffice #Bankura
