TURA, June 8: A second elephant attack has taken place in Garo Hills, in just a span of three days, with another villager trampled to death after coming face to face with the wild beast in the border area of Dalu in West Garo Hills district on Thursday morning.
The incident is said to have been triggered after the elderly man ventured close to the site where the elephants were taking refuge to see the beasts.
The attack happened in the Killapara area of the Indo-Bangla border when a herd of three adult and two calves crossed over after being chased from the neighboring country during the day.
Aon getting the news of the presence of the wild elephants, a group of villagers from the Dalu region went into the open fields to see for themselves and 60 year old Ohindro Dalu of Killapara also followed them.
The herd is said to have been on the edge after being chased away by villagers from the Bangladesh side of the border and the situation was more sensitive as it consists of two calves, something adult elephants are very protective of.
Seeing the villagers from the Killapara side gather around the paddy field where they were taking refuge, one of the adult pachyderms reacted and gave chase. It chased down Ohindro Dalu and attacked him, trampling him to death.
Police later retrieved the body from the paddy field.
This is the second elephant attack in the Garo Hills in less than one week. A few days back, a 21 year old youth returning home to his village of Alokpang in Siju region of South Garo Hills was attacked and killed by another wild elephant on Monday night.
Wildlife officials have been urging people to stay away from areas where elephants are spotted and have also been urging people not to frighten the big beasts as it tends to create a violent reaction that leads to human casualties.
