A man was trampled to death by an elephant near Honkaravalli in Sakaleshpur taluk on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Yogesh, 45, a resident of Donkanagadde village.
He was working as a writer in a coffee estate owned by Mahesh near Honkaravalli.
Yogesh encountered the lone elephant while he was on his way to the estate at around 4.30 p.m. Even as he tried to run away from the spot, the elephant trampled him to death. The residents nearby rushed to the spot after the elephant went away. They, however, could not save him. The villagers informed Yogesh’s family members, who rushed to the spot. His aged father lost his consciousness as he saw the body. Yogesh is survived by his wife and two sons, besides his father. Both his sons are working in private factories in Bengaluru.
Protest
Following the incident, residents of nearby villages staged a dharna on Somwarpet-Belur Road. They alleged that the officials of the Forest Department did not reach the spot even after they were informed about the incident. The protesters demanded that the State government take immediate measures to capture all elephants in the taluk so that no more deaths occur.
People of the taluk have been demanding the capture and relocation of all elephants. Forest Minister Ramanath Rai also held a meeting with coffee planters in Sakaleshpur on this issue last month.
