Tuskers return to scare Hazaribag villagers

HAZARIBAG: A herd of 17 elephants, including three baby elephants, which created havoc just three months ago when they entered the Canary Hill area locality of Hazaribag town have once again forayed into the forest of Churchu Block three days ago, confirmed DFO of Hazaribag East Division, Ajit Kumar. The DFO said that villagers have been asked to stay away from the newly-sown crops on fields and paddy stock as the pachyderms are likely to target this stock. He said, "We have launched an awareness campaign in the concerned areas to acquaint the people on how to protect themselves from jumbo attacks. The DFO, however, said the herd has confined itself in the thick and dense forest at Kinjhia as they got sufficient food there.

The herd destroyed one Indira Awaas Yojana unit and crops, he added.

just-harvested paddy crop in about 15 acres of land in the district. On the other hand, the villagers are spending sleepless nights to protect paddy and other foodgrain stocked in their house. No human casualty has been reported until now, said the DFO.