Wild elephant attack kills farmer in Kaimani

Gonikoppal, Apr. 8: As the human-elephant conflict continues in South Kodagu, a farmer was killed in a wild elephant attack in Kaimani village of Srimangala hobli. Coffee farmer Mookalamada Rathu was the victim of an elephant attack. Rathu (52) was on his way to his plantation as usual in the early morning when a wild elephant suddenly attacked him in the coffee plantation. On learning about the incident, the citizens took him to the Kutta government hospital for treatment, but he died due to lack of treatment. As soon as the news came to light, the villagers around Srimangala went to the Kutta hospital, which is on the border with Kodagu, and vented their displeasure on the forest department staff present at the spot. After 11 am, the local villagers gathered and protested against the forest department and expressed their anger.

On hearing the news of the elephant attack, Virajpet DFO Jagannath and his staff went to Kutta Hospital from Virajpet and held talks with the villagers who had gathered in large numbers in front of the hospital. During this, the villagers expressed their dissatisfaction about the incident before the officials. Although DFO Jagannath tried to pacify the villagers, the villagers lashed out at the department.

The villagers insisted that the Forest Department immediately provide a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the family of the deceased. At this time, the officials told the villagers that they would provide the compensation available from the government after giving a fair hearing. But the villagers did not agree to the officials' words. They insisted that the compensation check should be given on the spot. The villagers put forward their firm stand that if the compensation check was not given, they would not allow the post-mortem examination. The villagers continued their protest from dawn to noon. After the talks between the officials and the villagers, the Forest Department gave the first installment of Rs 5 lakh to the family members through a check. DFO Jagannath said that the remaining compensation money will be transferred to the family's bank account within a week. Then the villagers allowed the postmortem examination.

On this occasion, District Guarantee Implementation Committee President Teethira Dharmaja Uthappa, Taluk President Kalimada Prashanth, Srimangala Taluk Panchayat Former Member Palveen Poonachha, Kutta Grama Panchayat Former President H.Y. Ramakrishna, growers Manira Vijay Nanjappa, Machhamada Dolly Changappa, Ajjikuttir Bopanna, Teethira Venu, Machhamada Bosu and many other organization leaders were present. Wildlife Department DFO Nehru, Forest Officers Gangadhar, Shivaram, Kushalnagar ACF Gopal, Bose Madappa, DRFO team and other officials were present. The postmortem examination was conducted in the afternoon. Later, the body was handed over to the family members. The deceased is survived by a son and a wife. In the afternoon, the officials and staff started the operation to drive the wild elephant back to the forest. -H.K. Jagadish

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