Residents of Ballupete and neighbouring villages in Sakleshpur taluk are in fear as a couples of elephants have been roaming around the village for the past few days. An elephant was seen crossing National Highway 75 and another was spotted in the coffee estates nearby on Friday.
The villagers had staged a protest stopping vehicles on NH 75 on Thursday following a death of a person in an elephant attack at Hale Honkarahalli. The protesters had demanded the government capture all elephants in the taluk and relocate them. Within a day after the protest elephants were spotted close to Ballupete village.
Many people were seen recording movements of elephants on their cellphones. The villagers, in fear, avoid going out of their places. Motorists travelling on Ballupete-Kodlipete Road and NH 75 are also worried about their safety.
Deputy Conservator of Forests M.L. Manjunath has said the department would begin the operation to capture two tuskers causing panic around Ballupete. The department would set up a camp at Hale Belur to handle the operation. As many as five tamed elephants would be involved in the operation.
