Tripura villagers panicked, shocked when an elephant 'infiltrates' and creates havoc
A domesticated elephant reportedly fled away from the clutches of its owner in Bangladesh and infiltrated to Tripura.
Infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya people nothing uncommon. But people of Chagoldema in Kailashahar under the Unakoti District of Tripura were shocked after knowing that the rampaging elephant might have been made incursion to their village from Bangladesh after breaching the barbed wire border fencing.
Sources said, the owner of the elephant, a Bangladeshi national, will arrive in Tripura with relevant valid documents to take the elephant back to Bangladesh.
According to villagers, the elephant was found creating mayhem on Thursday (September 11) night. It damaged crops and destroyed rubber plantations at Chagoldema.
Villagers promptly informed the forest personnel who reached the spot on the next morning and managed to bring the elephant under control.
Sources said, the elephant was found wounded.
After the arrival of the forest officials, several local elephant owners turned and claimed their ownership of the elephant. Meantime, report of the 'stray' elephant caught spread. Locals and media persons rushed to the spot.
Sensing the situation, forest officials announced that the ownership issue would be settled by the higher authorities and presently they would relocate the elephant at the Rangrung village for its treatment.
It may be noted, all the domesticated elephants of the State including the Unakoti District are fitted with special chips which help to find out the owner of the elephant. However, no chip was found attached to this rampaging elephant.
Experts believe the elephant may have crossed from Bangladesh because it lacked the identification chip used for elephants in Tripura.
Besides, injuries on the elephant's body, likely caused by the border fence, support the theory that it, indeed, infiltrated.
If the elephant intruded from Bangladesh, there are reasons to be worried, particularly regarding the possibility of human intrusion as the border fence might have been damaged by the elephant.
After its primary treatment was over, the elephant was eventually relocated to the Mungiakami Reserve Forest in Khowai district of Tripura, said forest officer of Kailashahar Ardhendu Bikash Das.
The origin of the elephant could be ascertained after the Bangladesh national's arrival with valid documents. Till he proves his ownership claim, the elephant will roam around in the reserved forest area.
"If the elephants has entered our village from Bangladesh, don't take lightly as it might pose serious security threat of different sorts", said a local veteran without any further explanation.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
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