Elephants trample woman to death

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 8. Three wild elephants attacked a 40-year-old woman and trampled her to death in Hakkipikki Colony forming part of the Bannerghatta Reserve Forest in the early hours of Sunday.

The elephants, which had strayed in search of food, dragged Lakshmamma from her hut and trampled her to death, suggested police reports. Lakshmamma was the wife of Mr. Shamanna, a watchman in the Bannerghatta National Park.

Reports further said that Lakshmamma was sleeping with the door of her hut open when one of the elephants dragged her out. However, the Forest Department sources suspect that the woman may have attempted to scare the animals away and fell a victim in the process. Her hut had suffered no damage.

It is said that a tusker had gored her causing injuries on her neck and thighs, while the other elephants trampled her to death. The people of the colony informed police immediately after the elephants made their way out of the area.

It is learnt that there were a couple of jackfruit trees close to the hut. The pachyderms, which feasted on jackfruits, had damaged most of the trees' branches.

Lakshmamma's three children were with their grandfather in Taralu village in Talghattapura and Mr. Shamanna was on night duty when the incident happened.

Post-mortem was conducted and the body handed over to Mr. Shamanna.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Bannerghatta, Mr. B.M.T.Rajeev, told The Hindu that the Hakkipikki Colony was located inside the reserve forest and its residents had been refusing to accept the proposal of the authorities to rehabilitate them outside the park area. Their houses and lands were still being considered an encroachment as no land in the reserve area could be regularised.

The colony was protected by trenches dug up by the Forest Department. However, the elephants had strayed through the ``flattening of trenches''.

He said a cheque for Rs.25,000 was given to Mr. Shamanna as compensation. Another Rs.75,000 would be given to him soon.

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