Jumbo batters elephant squad member to death during drive away operation in Odisha

A member of the elephant squad was battered to death by a tusker during an operation to drive away the wild herd back to the forest at Jharbeda village under the Sadar forest range in Keonjhar district. The deceased has been identified as Basant Mohant of Gobindapur village.

According to sources, a wild herd of seven tuskers strayed into Jharbeda village late Wednesday night. The tuskers were feeding on the standing crops when villagers spotted them and alerted the forest department.

On being informed, a team of forest department officials and the elephant squad reached the village and tried to drive the wild herd back into the forest. Meanwhile, one of the tuskers attacked Basant.

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While others managed to escape, the tusker lifted Basant and battered him to a tree, killing him on the spot. Sources said, Basant was long associated with the elephant squad and was the only earning member of his family.

Villagers have demanded necessary compensation for the kin of the deceased.