GUWAHATI: Tension prevailed in Goalpara district after locals blocked a highway on Saturday protesting against the Forest Department’s failure to control elephant attacks on villages that led to the death of three members of a family.

Three members of a family — two women and a baby — were killed after a wild elephant raided Gendrapara village in the district late Friday night.

The local people took the bodies of the three deceased and blocked the National Highway 37 demanding action against the Forest Department and compensation to the victims’ family.

Police had to resort to lathi charge to clear the highway.

Locals said that a wild elephant had been raiding the Gendrapara village and other adjacent areas for last few days.

“We have informed this to the forest officials. However, nothing was done by the Forest Department to chase the elephant away from human habitations,” said one of the locals

[Debrata Sarma]

  deforestation, environment, wildlife