Jumbo fatally attacks farmer near Tarikere

Chikkamagaluru: The human-elephant conflict continued in Chikkamagaluru district as a 58-year-old farmer was killed by an elephant at Gurupura in Tanigebail forest range of Tarikere taluk on Sunday. Venkatesh, a farmer, was attacked by a wild elephant in front of his house around 9.30pm. According to his family members, the elephant caught him with its trunk and smashed him against a tree, killing him on the spot.
Following the incident, the villagers resorted to a protest against the forest officials and forest minister Eshwar B Khandre. They demanded that the minister visit the spot. However, MLA G H Srinivas rushed to the scene and managed to convince the villagers to perform the final rites of the deceased.
The MLA also blamed the officials for their alleged failure to take necessary steps to prevent the incident. "No such incident should be repeated, and the foresters will be held responsible next time," he said, and added that he has spoken to the forest minister and also brought the matter to the chief minister's office. "I will visit Bengaluru and submit a detailed report about the incident," he said.
The MLA issued a compensation cheque of Rs 15 lakh to the bereaved family. Although the elephant was moving around for the last two months, the officials allegedly failed to take necessary measures. The villagers accused the foresters of translocating elephants to the region from other areas.