Women in Chandil subdivision protest, demanding protection from rampaging elephants. Road blocked, villagers express frustration over inaction.
Chandil – In Chandil sub-division of Kharsawan district, villagers are suffering from ongoing elephant rampages. On Monday, women from the area blocked Chandil-Kandra road and demonstrated for hours, demanding protection from the government and administration against these wild elephants.
A wild elephant has been wreaking havoc in the area for the past week, causing damage to life and property in villages under the Chandil police station jurisdiction, including Manikui, Tarkuan, Katia, Chhota Lakha, Bada Lakha, and Bohradih.
The elephant has targeted homes, causing extensive damage to walls, boundary walls, and stored grains.
Vinota Singh Sardar, a woman residing in Tarkuan Rehabilitation Colony, narrowly escaped harm when an elephant attacked her house while she was sleeping with her five children.
The elephant damaged the house and consumed a sack of rice stored inside.
The roadblock caused a long queue of vehicles on both ends of the road, with motorcycles and cars using bypass roads to navigate, while heavy vehicles remained stuck.
Chandil Pramukh Amala Murmu expressed frustration over the Forest Department’s lack of action and failure to compensate villagers for damages.
Murmu provided immediate food assistance to Vinota Singh Sardar and assured her of further cooperation in obtaining compensation.
Forest Department officials expressed concern over the situation, stating that they are trying to drive away the elephants and provide compensation under government provisions.
After a five-hour stalemate, the villagers lifted the road blockade.
