Jharkhand News : The menace of wild elephants continues to pose a serious threat in Jharkhand’s Koderma district. In the latest incident, a farmer was killed after being attacked by a herd of wild elephants in Khandradih village under Paplo Panchayat of Markacho police station area on Sunday night.
Following the incident, angry villagers staged a protest against the Forest Department, accusing it of failing to take effective measures despite the frequent movement of elephants in the area. They demanded that the herd be driven back into the forest immediately.
The deceased has been identified as Kedar Yadav (55), a resident of Khandradih village. According to reports, he was working in a field near his house when a herd of elephants attacked him. The elephants allegedly trampled him repeatedly, causing fatal injuries. He died on the spot.
After receiving information about the incident, Markacho Police Station In-charge Bambam Kumar reached the spot with a police team. He pacified the agitated villagers late into the night, following which the body was sent to Koderma Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Villagers Demand Permanent Solution
Residents alleged that despite the continuous movement of elephants in the area, the Forest Department has failed to implement effective measures, leaving people living in constant fear. They urged the authorities to safely drive the elephants back into the forest and find a long-term solution to the recurring human-elephant conflict.
DFO Urges Caution
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Saumitra Shukla said that a herd of 20 to 25 wild elephants is currently moving through different forest areas of Koderma district. He appealed to residents to remain alert and avoid venturing alone into forests or agricultural fields at night.
The DFO also stated that compensation would be provided as per government norms in cases of loss of life, crop damage, or damage to property caused by elephant attacks.
According to available information, around 18 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks in Koderma district over the past year, highlighting the growing concern over human-elephant conflict in the region.
