*Sujit Chanda
Elephant menace continues to haunt people of Teliamura sub-division in Tripura.
After wild bull elephants strode into villages and damaged properties on two successive days, a domesticated elephant triggered panic among the common people at Block Choumuhani area under Teliamura PS on Tuesday. The elephant attacked Ranjan Malakar (48), a Ward Councilor of Teliamura Municipal Council (TMC) and left Malakar critically injured.
It is learnt, one Abdul Mashui of Kailashahar owns the domesticated elephant and Aftaruddin as the Mahut of the elephant. According to sources, Afteruddin was taking the elephant from Kailashahr to Taidu to carry wood logs of a trader. On its way to Taidu, the elephant reached Block Choumuhani area. Meanwhile, Ranjan Malakar was returning to his shop after collecting water from a nearby tube well and at that time, the elephant attacked Malakar from behind.
Later, the elephant hit Malakar with its tusk leaving Malakar grievously injured. The Mahut could not control the elephant and ran away from the spot. Locals rescued the injured Malakar and he was rushed to GB Hospital later on. Till the report filing, doctors are conducting operation on Malakar and his condition is stated to critical, family sources said.
Police detained the mahut and Forest department personnel kept the elephant at a protected place. As report spread, TMC chairman Nitin Kumar Saha and SDPO Krishna Gopal Roy and OC of Teliamura PS rushed to the spot. A group of angry locals attacked the Mahut – however, Police intervened and took him Police station.
*Sujit Chanda may be contacted at sujitchandatlm@gmail.com