Man-jumbo conflict in Assam’s Udalguri: 2 killed, 1 hurt in jumbo attack

The Udalguri district, under Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), has witnessed a steady rise in human-elephant conflict over the past decade.

The illegal human encroachment in the age-old elephant corridors of Udalguri district bordering Bhutan has posed serious threat to ecology of the district

Unabated felling of trees in Khalingduar Reserve Forest and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary has led to destruction of the green cover compelling wild elephants to roam in human habitats. The Indo-Bhutan border region is fraught with human-animal conflicts resulting in deaths of several elephants and human lives since the 1980s and such incidents have been continuing to take place in the district.

In the last 24 hours, two separate incidents of man-elephant conflict have jolted the Indo-Bhutan border populace.

Two persons were killed and one was injured critically in wild jumbo attack within last 24 hours in Garuajhar area under Panery Police Station in Udalguri.

As per reports, one 48-year-old tea garden labourer, identified as Pitus Tigda, was trampled to death in Uttar Garuajhar area on Monday night.


In another incident, a mother-son duo was attacked at Niz Garuajhar on Tuesday morning.

A 24-year-old youth, identified as Ashraful Ali, succumbed to his injuries while his mother, 55-year-old Meharjan Begum, has been battling for life.

Forest sources claimed that a makhana (male elephant without tusk), which is hell-bent on causing harm, is behind both the incidents. It has claimed many human lives in the recent past.

“In last one year alone, Udalguri has witnessed seven human and eight wild elephant deaths due to man-elephant encounters. It is obvious that an increasing human population in a critical wildlife habitat is one of the main reasons for the conflicts,” said Nabajyoti Baruah, a well-known wildlife activist of Udalguri.


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