Locals Detain Forester, Staff Over Elephant Menace In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Mayurbhanj: A forester and several contractual employees of the Forest Department were allegedly detained by villagers of Puruna Deogaon under Karanjia forest division in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday over the issue of crops damaged by elephants in the locality.

According to sources, Dari Forester Parshuram Besra and eight staff of the department went to a nearby forest on Tuesday night after getting information regarding a herd of marauding elephants.

Later, they met the locals, who held them responsible for the elephant menace in the area.

The locals alleged that the officers were not taking adequate steps to ward off the jumbos and added that the department was delaying the release of compensation in the cases of damage caused by the animals. They also demanded the transfer of the forester.

On being informed, Dudhiani Ranger arrived at the spot and held discussions with the locals. However, the locals said that they would release the detainees only after getting assurance about their demands from the Ranger and DFO.