Dhenkanal: In a heartrending incident, a man was trampled to death by a tusker at Kadalipala village under Kamakhyanagar western forest range in Dhenkanal district early Wednesday morning.
The deceased was identified as Gaurang Palei, 55, of Kadalipala village.
According to sources, the incident occurred early Wednesday morning while Palei was out of the house near the courtyard when the pachyderm attacked him. He tried to run into the house but the tusker lifted him and battered him to the ground before trampling him to death.
The pachyderm had strayed into the village in search of food. The incident spread tension in the village as angry villagers drove away the tusker and staged a demonstration on Bhalumunda-Parajang main road, causing road blockade.
Irate villagers placed the body on the main road and staged protest, demanding immediate compensation for the bereaved family members and to drive away the tusker into the forest.
Vehicular movements came to a standstill on both sides of the main road following the protest. On getting information about the incident, Kamakhyanagar ranger Bibhudanand Mishra, Tumusinha police IIC Bishnucharan Barik and other officials reached the village and tried to pacify the agitators.
The agitators relented after the forest department provided Rs 40,000 and assured to pay the remaining amount after autopsy. A case of unnatural death was registered and the body was sent for post-mortem.
PNN