Rangamati admin seeks govt help to protect villagers

"We have sent fax messages to the minister for forest and the hill tracts affairs minister seeking protection from attacks by wild elephants",

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Dr. Jafor Ahmed Khan told The Daily Star.

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The situation is really alarming in vulnerable hillside villages. Hundreds of panic-stricken villagers in Rajastoli and Bangalhalia areas under Kapatai upazila of Ranhgamati moved to safer places and took shelter in school buildings and temples fearing further attacks.

"We have distributed Tk 60,000 and eight tonnes of rice among the affected villagers", the DC said.

He said Kaptai, Longadu and Kaokhali are the most vulnerable areas where wild elephants frequently rampage villages, killing people and damaging houses.

In the latest incident on Wednesday in Rajastoli area, three villagers including a minor girl were trampled to death and 10 others injured, forest officials and police said.

In Rajastoli, a vigilance team comprising forest guards and villagers is trying to keep wild elephants away by beating drums, exploding crackers and showing flames, they said.

Wild elephants came to villages from forests in search of food mainly jackfruit and banana-- because human habitations have destroyed forests and created a food crisis for them, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ratan Majumder at Rajastoli.

Most of the villagers are now passing sleepless nights fearing attacks from wild elephants, said Noresh Malakar of Bangalhalia in Rajastoli area.