Jumbo tramples farmer to death

A farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kayimani village in Ponnampet on Thursday.

The incident occurred when Chokira Sudha (45) had gone for a morning walk near the highway.

On learning about the incident, Raitha Sangha district president Chimmangada Ganesh, along with other farmer leaders, staged a protest on the highway. The protestors and the family members of Chokira maintained that they will not allow his body to be lifted from the spot for post mortem until senior officials of the Forest department assured them of fulfilling their demands.

Traffic came to a standstill following the protest on the highway till 12 noon. DCF Manjunath, who visited the spot, was taken to task by the protesters, who urged that the CCF should visit the spot.

CCF Santhosh met the protestors and assured the family of Rs five lakh compensation. The dependents of the deceased will be provided with a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for five years. A proposal will be submitted to the senior officials to increase the compensation, he said.

When the family demanded a permanent job for Chokira’s son, DCF Mariya Kristaraju said that there was no provision to offer a permanent job on compassionate grounds. However, he would be provided with a temporary job. A rapid response team will be positioned in Srimangala limits soon, he said.

After assurances by two senior officials of the Forest department, the protestors withdrew the protest late in the afternoon.