The agitating villagers also took hostage the forest range officer at Hungta village in Bundu, 540km from here, for over four hours and released him only after compensation was paid to the family of the deceased.
Ravi Lochan Munda (40) was with other villagers when a herd of about 17 elephants entered the village on Sunday night, said an official in the forest department. At first, they could not see the animals coming in the dark but tried to flee the spot soon after they spotted the herd. One of the elephants attacked Munda and killed him on the spot. Two others were also injured.
However, villagers chased the herd into the village after the survivors raised an alarm. “The elephants hid in the forests and hills situated near the village,” said the official. “Police were sent at the spot to clear it. In association with the forest officials the blockade was removed successfully,” said Ranchi SP (rural) S K Jha said.
Assistant conservator of forest Arjun Badaik said Rs 50,000 was paid to the kin of Munda and Rs 3,000 to the kin of the injured.