Wild elephants kill 26 people in Meghalaya in past three years (India)

"The elephant population is spread over a large area of the state and it is impossible to drive them out as they wander for food, water and shelter,"Laloo told the Assembly.

According to forest department estimates, there are around 1,285 elephants in Garo hills region of the state and scattered herds often raid villages, damaging houses, crop land and also trample humans.

Laloo said the government has taken a number of steps like habitat improvement, encouraging people to plant crops which elephants do not prefer, constitution of voluntary protection squads in villages and carrying out of operations to scare them using crackers and chilli power.

Asked by MLA J M Marak if the government proposes to check over-population of elephants by giving licenses to catch young elephants, the minister said, sanction of Centre is required.