Farmers protest against wild elephant menace

Alleging that the wild elephant menace has increased in the district and officials have failed to check the menace, the members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Karmikara Aranya Horata Samithi, staged a protest along with farmers in town on Friday.

The procession that began at Gandhi Maidan passed the General Thimayya Circle before culminating at Aranya Bhavana. The protesters shouted slogans against the officials for failing to check the wild elephant and tiger menace.

When the protesters attempted to lay siege to the Aranya Bhavana, the police stopped them from doing so. The protesters warned that if they were not allowed to stage the dharna, the farmers from Mandya and Mysuru districts would join them in the protest.

FIR against officials

Addressing the protesters, JD(S) district president Sanketh Poovaiah said, "As many as 40 persons have lost their lives in the elephant attack in the district in recent times. The officials are showing a negligent attitude. When an elephant trampled a man to death in Siddapura, an FIR was also filed against the officials."

Farmer leader Palibetta Ajith said that the elephants are camping in villages. The Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) has not visited the spot to listen to the grievances of the people

Raitha Sangha district president Manu Somaiah also addressed the protesters.

CCF Lingaraj promised to convene meetings in three taluks shortly to discuss the elephant menace. A proposal to lay a railway track as fence on a 10-km stretch has been submitted to the government.