Mysuru: A 60-year-old farmer was killed in an attack by wild elephant at a farm land in Ettige Village on Saraguru Taluk on Thursday August 11.
The deceased has been identified as Balan (60), a native of Kerala who had been undertaking ginger cultivation by taking land on lease. The incident occurred during late night hours.
The elephant suspected to have strayed out from Bandipura Forest close to Hediyala Range, was roaming around the farm land in the village, when Balan was guarding crops at night. The villagers tried to drive back the elephant to forest but failed in their efforts till Friday morning hours.
The villagers slammed the Forest Officials for not taking any measures to control wild elephant menace. The villagers warned of severe agitation against Forest Department if they do not take steps to prevent entry of elephants. Villagers alleged that elephants were entering human habitat every night and destroying lakhs of rupees worth crop in the night. They lamented that the Forest Officers give a penny as compensation.
Post the incident, the Forest Officers rushed to the spot and promised compensation.
