Retired forester trampled by jumbo in Thalavady

The incident took place when Thavasiappan (75) went in search of one of his buffaloes, which failed to return after grazing.

Sources said that he used to allow his four buffaloes to graze every morning in the forest area. They would return on their own by the evening. However, on Sunday, one of them didn’t turn up even after a long time.

Thavasiappan, who had gone in search of the animal, didn’t return home. Surprised at his absence, villagers on Monday searched for him in the forest, where they found his body near a stream.

Villagers believe that Thavasiappan was trampled to death by a wild elephant because of the nature of injuries that he received.

On receiving information about the incident, the Hassanur police and Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and sent his body for a post-mortem examination at the Sathyamangalam Government Hospital.

Police have registered a case in connection with the death. Further inquiries are under way in this regard.