A wild tusker, which has been wreaking terror in several villagers in Agumbe hobli near Teerthahalli for the past one year, is yet to be relocated to a different place, thanks to apathy by the forest officials. The governemt had allowed the department to shift the tusker three months ago.
Alarmed by the continued threat of the tusker to life and property in the region, villagers and local bodies will observe fast before the ACF office in Teerthahalli under the leadership of local MLA and former minister Kimmane Ratnakar on November 7.
Kimmane had prevailed upon forest minister Ramanth Rai to visit Teerthahalli to discuss the problem. He had also appealed to the minister to shift the tusker to a far-off place. Heeding the request made by Kimmane on behalf of the villagers, Rai ordered the department to catch the wild elephant and send it to Sakrebyle camp so it can be tamed. Subsequently, an official order was also issued. But till now, forest officials have allegedly not taken any action, leaving the elephant on its own.
The villagers’ committee headed by GP president V Ravish said that they are left with no choice but to stage a sit-in protest before the forest office.