1 dead, another injured in tusker attack

Keonjhar: One person was killed and another seriously injured in a tusker attack at Jarkani Beda cashew field in Raidiha forest beat under Patna range in the district on Saturday.The deceased was identified as Benudhar Naik (18) of Tavasrua village of Saharpada section and the injured is Mansingh Munda (45) of Jamulaibeda village of Patna section.Sources said the two along with other villagers had gone to see the elephant with the lone tusk in Jarkanibeda forest when it attacked the duo. Forest officials rescued the two and shifted them to Karanjia sub-divisional hospital in Mayurbhanj district. They were shifted to Keonjhar district hospital, where the doctor declared Naik dead.The forest department is keeping a close watch on the elephant and has advised locals not to go near it. Patna range officer B B Sardar said, “Despite several alerts, villagers are approaching the elephant and falling prey to it.”