Dhenkanal: Tension ran high after irate people ransacked the Sarangi forest range office, the residence of the ranger and torched the official vehicle after a 45-year old man was crushed to death by a tusker at Sarangi under Gondia police limits in this district Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Krushna Chandra Pradhan in the village. Pradhan was on his way to his house when the tusker caught him close to the high school and battered him to death.
The mishap triggered tension in the village as angry residents ransacked the Sarangi forest range office, the ranger’s official residence, the official jeep of the ranger and the motorcycles of the forest staff. Later, Gondia fire personnel reached the spot and doused the fire.
The panicked forest officials ran helter skelter and took shelter at the police station.
Police drew flak as they failed to reach the spot immediately even as the distance between Sarangi village and the police station was only seven km. A police force rushed to the spot after Kodandadhar Sahu, the vice-president of the Zilla Parishad informed the SP.
Ranger Ashok Kumar Bhanja admitted the incident
The villagers alleged a tusker has been frequently foraying into the village for the past few days and has caused significant damage to the crop. They have sought the help of forest officials to drive away the tusker but they have done nothing in this regard, they alleged.
PNN