Elephants damage 12 houses in Bokaro

Speed Post News Network

Bokaro: Around  15 elephants moving with two calves  in foothills of  Jhumra  hillocks under Gomia block damaged  12 houses of poor farmers  of village Kundaunder under Mahuatand police station zone, about 80 km away from Bokaro steel city, early Saturday morning.

After killing a differently abled woman at village Pachmo on Friday,  elephants took shelter between Pachmo and Kathara deep jungle zone in late evening hours  while forest  guards along with villagers were trying to chase them away towards Hazaribagh deep forest zone which is full of vegetation. According to Bokaro divisional forest officer (DFO)  PR Naidu, the tuskers after midnight hours started moving away from  Pachmo forest  zone towards  Hazaribagh but after reaching Kunda  village  suddenly started attacking  houses of poor farmers and even standing crops. The farmers ran away from their houses for safety.

The farmers whose houses were attacked in the wee hours on Saturday have been identified as Bhola Manjhi, Baluchandra Manjhi, Pusan Manjhi, Dashrath Karmali, Binod Karmali, Pawan Karmali, Hamir Ansari, Dinu Karmali, Shivan Manjhi, Pyare Manhji , Isan Ansari  and Mubarak Ansari. After  attacking the houses, the elephants later even damaged standing  paddy and maize crops  in about 2 acres of land, sources informed .

“We have requested  Gomia block circle officer to ascertain the losses  caused to poor farmers who will be duly compensated as per government rules in case of  elephant attack,” promised  the DFO.

Forest officers along with trained youths are trying to send the elephants towards Hazaribagh forest zone using dragon lights, torches, crackers and beating drums , stated the DFO.

Gomia MLA Yogendra Mahto on Saturday visited Kunda village and met poor farmers whose houses were damaged  promising all help from his side and taking up the matter with the state government.