UP chairman's elephant tramples one to death

The dead was identified as Challanjee Khasia, 50.

Seriously wounded Het Khasia, 30, chief of Adabari Panpunjee, was admitted to the Brahminbazar Mission Hospital.

The mad elephant attacked the inhabitants of Adabari Panpunjee (betel garden) on Tuesday night while they were collecting betel leafs from their gardens, leaving Challanjee dead on the spot.

Three more Khasias were trampled to death by the same elephant a few months ago, but its owner, Masuk Ahmed, chairman of Fultala Union Parishad under Juri upazila, did not take any steps to control or treat the mad animal even after they informed him, the Khasia people alleged.

The mad animal also damaged the betel gardens several times, they added.

At present, the Khasia people are in a panic as the killer elephant is still at large and had been grazing in and around the Adabari Panpunjee.

When asked, Chairman Masuk Ahmed admitted that his elephant has gone mad and he failed to control it. He, however, said that the Khasia people should not live in the 'jungle' as it is the grazing place for elephants and other animals.