Elephant kills 2 Krishnagiri farmers, villagers seek its translocation

The deceased, Muniraj (28) from Puliarasi village and Rajendran (40) from Jokirpalayam were on their way to their farm at A Chettipalli when an elephant charged at them.

The attack left Muniraj dead on the spot, while Rajendran was critically injured. On hearing their loud screams, the villagers came to the spot and rushed Rajendran to Krishnagiri GH. However, he succumbed to injuries.

As information about the death of the duo spread, their family members and villagers blocked the Shoolagiri-Berigai Road near Jokirpalayam with the body of Muniraj.

With the protest turning intense, officials of Revenue Department, police and Veppanahalli DMK MLA P Murugan held talks with the villagers. But they refused to relent, and sought the Forest Department to capture and translocate the elephant. Following an assurance in this regard, the villagers withdrew the road block.

The body of the deceased was then taken for postmortem examination at Hosur GH. MLA Murugan handed over an initial solatium of Rs 50,000 to the kin of the deceased.

Speaking to reporters, the MLA said that 11 persons have died in elephant attacks in Shoolagiri taluk so far this year.

“This elephant, which has been raiding crops and attacking people over the last one month should be translocated elsewhere. The farmers who faced crop loss due to raids by elephants were not given compensation for the last four years,” he added.