2 jumbos enter Jalpaiguri town, prohibitory orders imposed

Jalpaiguri: Prohibitory orders were issued after two elephants — a tusker and a makna (male without tusk) — entered Jalpaiguri town on Sunday night. The pachyderms, believed to be from Baikunthapur forest, travelled along the Teesta river bank, went into Paharpur, crossed the busy NH31D and walked into the town.Although the administration imposed Section 144 of CrPC, its implementation was poor as thousands tried to get a peek at the jumbos.The elephants were discovered around 3am on Sunday by the night guard at a Covid hospital in Biswa Bangla Krirangan, in the heart of Jalpaiguri town. Hearing noises, Bibhuti Roy grabbed his lathi and came out of his shelter, thinking there were thieves on the prowl. “Two elephants were roaming around on the Biswa Bangla Krirangan campus. It was difficult for me to believe what I was seeing. I came back my senses on hearing one trumpeting,” Roy said.The jumbos entered Topamari area in ward no.2, breaking the gate of the Jalpaiguri BL & LRO office on the way. They then entered Biswa Bangla Krirangan campus, broke open its fencing and crossed the Karala river to enter ward no.24. From there, they went behind Arabindu Byamagar O Pathagar Club through Pabitra Nagar colony to take refuge in a graveyard. To distract the elephants from raiding Pabitra Nagar colony, power was cut.“These are maljuria elephants. Such jumbos have the habit of trying to explore new routes. But they often turn ferocious when they do not get enough food after being holed up for long,” said state wildlife advisory board member Animesh Bose. Foresters from Lataguri and Moraghat range, Ramsai, Binnaguri, Belakoba, Malbazar, Airawat and Sukna WL squads and Jalpaiguri Mobile Patrolling Party could not drive away the animals till late evening.“We are trying to make the elephants return to the forest. But it’s not an easy task, especially in places where there is a thick habitat,” said Mridul Kumar, divisional forest officer, Jalpaiguri division.