Jharkhand: ‘May have to tranquilise killer jumbo’

RANCHI: Senior officers of the state department of forests, environment and wildlife are planning to tranquillise the elephant that killed nine people across Lohardaga and Ranchi districts in a span of 48 hours and put it in captivity.

“Our priority is to drive the elephant deep into the forests and away from human settlements to minimise damage to human lives and property. However, if the elephant continues to be on the rampage and killing streak, we will have to tranquilise it and put it in captivity,” Ranchi divisional forest officer (DFO) Shrikant Verma said.

The elephant, Verma said, moved into the forests of Sauka adjoining Itki and Bero blocks of Ranchi district on Tuesday evening. “It remained in the forest and was not sighted till Wednesday morning. However, our guards are deployed in the area to chase it away,” he added.

State chief wildlife warden Sasikar Samanta, who constituted a committee of five DFOs on Tuesday to seek a report on the department’s future course on the elephant, did not respond to TOI‘s calls.

After killing five persons in Lohardaga on Monday, the 16-year old tusker ventured into Gargaon village under Itki block on Tuesday and killed four persons. A man, critically injured, is hospitalised.