Sajanagad: The growing elephant menace is keeping farmers in villages around Tinikosia forest under Nilagiri block in Balasore on tenterhooks. In the last four months, a couple of elephants damaged crops extensively while the forest department is alleged to have remained a mute spectator.
Angry over the official apathy, the affected farmers gheraoed the local ranger, the forester, forest guards and a member of Sabuja Bahini Saturday.
Two elephants that strayed from Kuladiha have been holed up in Tinikosia and Gopalpur forests for over four months. The animals damaged paddy and banana crops and bamboo bushes at Naranpur, Bhaunriabada, Sajangada, Garadi, Telipal, Ajodhya and Jamudiha, locals said.
They stated that though they have sought the help of the forest department, the latter has not paid heed to their plight. Some families upset over the menace, have started staying in other areas. Locals observed that elephants usually frequent the villages before harvesting, but this year they strayed and damaged crops in the very beginning of the agriculture season.
“The solar fencing and ditches in the area meant to prevent entry of elephants from forests have got damaged, facilitating easy access for the animals,” farmers lamented.
The affected farmers staged protests at Naranpur beat house and detained forester Jogeswar Habuda and a member of Sabuja Bahini, Gajendra Swain.
As tension escalated, Nilagiri ranger Sukumar Das, Sajanagad forester Saroj Pradhan, Nilagiri forester Debraj Rout rushed to the spot and tried to convince the agitating people.
The villagers warned of an agitation in coming days if the forest department fails to drive away the elephants.
PNN