A plantation worker was trampled to death by an elephant near Kanive Basavanahalli in Alur taluk on Friday evening. The deceased, Chikkanna (60), of Kanive Basavanahalli, was returning home when he encountered the tusker. One of his legs got separated from his body in the attack. Pedestrians noticed his body late in the evening and informed his relatives.
Forest Department officials reached the spot around 7.30 pm and confirmed that he was killed by an elephant.
Residents of the village took the forest officials to task for not capturing elephants roaming in the locality. They held the Forest Department responsible for the death of the plantation worker.
Alur-Sakleshpur MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy met the family members of the deceased. The Forest Department gave B.C. Paramesh, son of the deceased, a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh. The family is entitled to Rs. 5 lakh as compensation. The remaining amount will be provided after post-mortem report was obtained.
MLA Kumaraswamy said that the Forest Department should capture elephants venturing in to human settlements. Eight elephants had been spotted in the locality so far and all of them should be captured, he said.
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