Baripada: Tension erupted at Bahalda village under Dukura forest range in Odsiha’s Mayurbhanj district after irate residents allegedly assaulted a team of forest officials, who had arrived to drive away a wild elephant that had strayed into the hamlet and damaged property.
Dukura forester Khageswar Sethi, two forest guards and three other staff members were injured in the incident.
According to sources, the villagers sought help from the forest department after a wild elephant strayed into the hamlet about two to three days ago. The tusker was again spotted in the village on Thursday afternoon, following which, villagers alerted Dukura range officials. Before a team of six forest officials arrived in a vehicle to safely guide it back into the forest, the animal, however, damaged several houses in the village.
Frustrated by the delay and the destruction, a group of villagers turned on the officials, verbally abusing them before allegedly beating them and pelting stones at their vehicle.
The forester managed to inform Khunta police, who reached the spot and rescued them. They were admitted to PRM Medical College and Hospital at Baripada for treatment.
Khunta police have seized the damaged vehicle, whose glass windows have cracked, and launched an investigation into the attack.
