Sonowal
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal during a meeting to discuss the man-elephant conflict in Goalpara. Image credit – Twitter @CMOfficeAssam

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the forest department officials to tranquilize the pachyderm which has killed three more people in Goalpara.

Sonowal also asked the forest department to relocate the wild tusker to a safer forest.

The Assam CM issued the directive during his visit to the Goalpara district on the day when a wild tusker was going on rampage and killed a man.

Also read: Assam: Wild elephant tramples one in Goalpara

The man, identified as Tiken Chandra Nath, trampled to death as he came out of his residence in Monakosa Bakaitary village under Matia revenue circle with his 15-month-old granddaughter for morning.

The latest victims of the elephant – which supposedly went mad by continuous sounds of crackers burst during Diwali Festival – have been identified as Minoti Kalita, Jahanara Khatun and Mizanur Islam.

Kalita is from Sidhabari village of Matia and others are from West Matia and Mamudpur under the Matia revenue circles.

As the pachyderm is still moving in the area, people are afraid of more casualties.

After his meeting with Goalpara deputy commissioner Varnali Deka and the forest officials in the district, the CM also ordered to pay ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the people who have been killed in man-elephant conflict.

Sharing a few images about Sonowal’s meeting to discuss the man-elephant conflict in Goalpara, the CMO on its Twitter handle said: “In a meeting with DC, SP & senior officials of Goalpara, CM @sarbanandsonwal took stock of recent man-elephant conflict in the district.”

“The CM directed forest dept to immediately rush a specialised team to control the situation & capture the rogue elephant if required,” it added.

The CMO also tweeted: “The CM directed officials concerned to release ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each to the next kin of victims by Wednesday.”

“He also directed them to provide adequate medical treatment to those injured.”

Sofikul Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in Goalpara. He can be reached at: [email protected]