Angry elephants kill 2 in Anekal

BANGALORE: Two farmers were trampled to death in Bannerghatta National Park when they took a short cut through the forest.
The area is a hotbed of man-jumbo conflict, where farmers usually stay awake through the nights guarding their crops. Conflicts between the villagers and animals have increased in the past few years, and though the government has provided some sort of solar fencing for the villages, it is proving to be just not enough.tnn
It is a short cut of just 3 km along the forest track, as compared to the roundabout 20 km of motorable road. Very tempting to farmers who stay in villages deep in the forest, but on Sunday, it cost two lives. Three others were injured inside Bannerghatta National Park (BNP). Ironically, one of the victims Huchappa, 60, a farmer from Thattikere near Jigani, spent a considerable part of his time chasing marauding elephants away from his small farm. He had a machan built on a tree, where he spent most nights.
Around 10.30 am on Sunday, he took the short cut to Choodalli, a neighbouring village, to bring ragi seeds. He walked through the woods with Motappa, 65, a farmer from Choodalli, Kabbalappa, Marakka and Lakshmamma. Suddenly, they came upon two elephants, one a calf. Panicking, they began running but an angry elephant chased and crushed Motappa to death. The other jumbo hit Huchappa with its trunk and trampled him. The three others escaped, but were so terrified they had to be hospitalised.
MOOD IN NEARBY VILLAGES
As news of the attack spread, people from neighbouring villages gathered near Thattikere pond, where the bodies were kept. The families of Huchappa and Motappa were inconsolable. Huchappa's wife Marakka lay prostrate on the ground, as her relatives tried to console her.
Huchappa owns a small piece of land near the pond and has five children — daughters Shivanamma, 35, Madevamma, 30, Shivarathnamma, 28, and sons Shivalegowda, 29, and Suresh, 26.
Said Kumar, a family member: "Huchappa never rested, he would wait near his ragi and mulberry fields all the time. He would go home only to eat, and return in the evening. When he had crops, he would wait all night. All the farmers here struggle to keep their crop intact."
Though both sons are into farming, there has never been a consistent income. Suresh is the only one who has studied till SSLC. "We requested the government to help poor farmers in this area, who lose their lives while trying to make a living," said Siddegowda, another relative. Motappa has three children — sons Shivanna and Kariappa and daughter Chandramma. He was going to Thattikere when the incident took place. Shivanna, a resigned look on his face, said his family was also dependent on farming.
NO END YET TO ELEPHANT MENACE
The man-elephant conflict is not new for villages like Urugana Doddi, Kanive Doddi, Thattikere and Choodalli. Chandranna, from Choodalli, said: "Our village is surrounded by forest and to visit Thattikere, just 3 km away, we have to travel 20 km via Anekal. So we prefer to go through the forest. But the biggest problem is elephants destroying our crops. If we lose Rs 10,000 worth of crop and submit an application for compensation at Bannerghatta, we get Rs 500. How would you expect a person to make a living?"
Rangaiah, 80, from Kanivedoddi, on the other side of Thattikere pond, says the elephant menace has increased in the past 10 years. "Earlier, we would only hear about such things and scout the forests for elephant tracks. Now people are afraid to even go out," he said.
Solar-powered fences border the forests and villagers dig trenches along their farms, but it has all proved futile. "The elephants know these tricks," says a villager.
Ramanagaram MLA K Raju, who visited the area, said he had requested the government to provide solar power fencing to 30 villages bordering the forests, but so far only 10 villages have been covered. He said Rs 2 lakh will be given in compensation to the victims' families.